Expert: Roger J.M. Warrington - 7/11/2006

Question
Hello,

I HAVE A 99' CAVALIER Z24. LAST WEEKEND I DROVE MY CAR AT 120-130 KM/H FOR ABOUT ONE HOUR. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED COOLANT WAS LEAKING. BY THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WAS DRY, THEREFORE I BOUGHT MORE DEX-C00L AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS TOLD I MAY NEED A NEW WATER PUUMP. HOWEVER, THE CAR STOPPED LEAKING COOLANT. IT'S BEEN OVER 36 HOURS SINCE I FILLED THE RADIATOR AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT LEAK SINCE. COOLANT LEVEL IS STILL FULL. I'M PUZZLED TO WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED OR WHAT IS HAPPENING ? IF YOU COULD SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS SITUATION I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS !

Answer
Steve ;
  Hi - well if you need a w/pump I would not wait till it breaks down , but if you wish to be shure , get a presshure
test done on the cooling system , if you fill the cooling system and run it till it gets hot , it should drip in the center of the front  of the car (engine ) area. it will only get worse. it might not be leaking now due to it is cool or it could be pluged with rust ,etc. but if it is bad , it has to be fixed , not cheep , 300.- 400.- or so.