Expert: Van - 1/4/2006

Question
(Has heat again once in awhile after adding coolant but not immediately. )I have a 98 Chevy Astro that is leaking anti-freeze but i dont see any on the ground, and its alot...have to fill every other day, have no heat, feels like a/c is on and its January...brrr. My neighbour felt the hoses or something and said they were cold dont know if that means anything, even after running for 20 min and reving motor no heat. Have heard what sounds like a squealing belt on and off again lately, as well as engine light intermittently comes on but the gas station attendants say oil and tranny fluid are fine, vehicle does not overheat at all. Sometimes notice that exhaust smoke looks whitish but not always.
Please help as this is only vehicle and its january in Manitoba....chilly.
Thanks";  

Answer
Hello Shar,
Check around the water pump real well for some leakage.
I would loosen the belt, and actually check the pump bearing condition also.

But if you are absolutely sure there is no external leak of coolant, then the most likely cause is the intake manifold gasket leaking coolant into the intake air stream, and it is passing through the engine, and out the exhaust.
I would expect the exhaust to smell just a little funny also...kinda sickeningly sweet, or acidic smelling.

At any rate, there were several years of intake manifold gasket problems when they started using DexCool antifreeze.

After changing the gaskets, I believe I would still use the DexCool. It is intended to reduce corrosion of the aluminum radiator.

It was a gasket problem...not the coolant.

Van