coolant level in 07 impala

My 02 s10 has rad cap on the rad and overflow hose located there which
runs to the bottle. If I remove the cap (cold) there is usuallly
coolant right there near the tube outlet. My 07 impala has the rad
filler cap over on the engine block , again with a hose there to the
bottle. If I remove the cap (cold) should I expect to see coolant near
the outlet to the hose? In my case I could put my finger down without
touching fluid. The fluid was also quite low in the bottle. I called
the dealer and they said to drop by and they would do a quick check.
Just the service advisor looked at it and he added coolant, to the
line I thought he said. He told me to watch for low coolant warning
and temp. No problem after I drove it awhile so I thought I'd check
again. Coolant was hot so I did not remove cap. Coolant was below the
line on bottle. Funny though because bottle has another little molded
compartment in front where the hose is located. In there the coolant
looks higher than in bottle? And when I look in bottle the bottom is
covered in crappy sludge. I just had the system serviced in the past
year, maybe as recent as July /aug. I'll call the dealer but I was
wondering whether I should expect the coolant level, cold, tobe right
up to the filler cap near the outlet hose. If not , wouldn't an air
gap prevent it from sucking back any overflow from the bottle as it
cooled? Of course the big air gap might mean none goes to bottle
either? Or maybe it's still low on coolant?

"38racing" > wrote in message
...
> My 02 s10 has rad cap on the rad and overflow hose located there which
> runs to the bottle.

Those systems were designed to keep coolant in the engine and air out.
It helps control corrosion in the engine.

As the engine heats up, the coolant should expand and force any
excess to the overflow tank, including air. And when the liquid coolant
cools in the engine, liquid alone should be sucked back into the engine.

Your engine should have coolant essentially right up to the cap. Apparently
something is not working as it should, and that sludge in your tank is
evidence of air or corrosive gas entering the system.

The corrosive gas can be air, drawn in from the outside OR it might be
exhaust gas entering the engine from a leaking gasket or a crack.

On 11/28/2010 03:27 PM, hls wrote:
>
> "38racing" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My 02 s10 has rad cap on the rad and overflow hose located there which
>> runs to the bottle.
>
> Those systems were designed to keep coolant in the engine and air out.
> It helps control corrosion in the engine.
>
> As the engine heats up, the coolant should expand and force any
> excess to the overflow tank, including air. And when the liquid coolant
> cools in the engine, liquid alone should be sucked back into the engine.
>
> Your engine should have coolant essentially right up to the cap. Apparently
> something is not working as it should, and that sludge in your tank is
> evidence of air or corrosive gas entering the system.
>
> The corrosive gas can be air, drawn in from the outside OR it might be
> exhaust gas entering the engine from a leaking gasket or a crack.

My '06 (3.4 engine) had the water pump fail at a very low mileage -
around 40K miles if I remember correctly. So you might want to stick an
eyeball on there and make sure that there's no evidence of seepage from
the weep hole.

nate

--
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"Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/28/2010 03:27 PM, hls wrote:
>>
>> "38racing" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> My 02 s10 has rad cap on the rad and overflow hose located there which
>>> runs to the bottle.
>>
>> Those systems were designed to keep coolant in the engine and air out.
>> It helps control corrosion in the engine.
>>
>> As the engine heats up, the coolant should expand and force any
>> excess to the overflow tank, including air. And when the liquid coolant
>> cools in the engine, liquid alone should be sucked back into the engine.
>>
>> Your engine should have coolant essentially right up to the cap.
>> Apparently
>> something is not working as it should, and that sludge in your tank is
>> evidence of air or corrosive gas entering the system.
>>
>> The corrosive gas can be air, drawn in from the outside OR it might be
>> exhaust gas entering the engine from a leaking gasket or a crack.
>
> My '06 (3.4 engine) had the water pump fail at a very low mileage - around
> 40K miles if I remember correctly. So you might want to stick an eyeball
> on there and make sure that there's no evidence of seepage from the weep
> hole.
>
> nate

Sure, water can leak out, and air can be sucked in, a leaking water
pump.