Random Missing Coolant Options

[Rofomet]

I'm not sure if I have a leak or not. I don't see anything underneath the car after parking overnight. My car is randomly losing coolant. I fill the radiator up to the top and when I check the next day, it could be still close to topped off or almost empty. When it's almost empty, I get steam coming out when the temp gauge reaches halfway. My car usually reads 1/3 of the temp gauge when it's at running temp.

1. Should it be running at 1/3 gauage?
2. Any ideas why I am having random loss of coolant?

[tonytutino]

could be a bad thermostat, telling your car to use more coolant than it should, especially if its reading at 33% running temp, mines about 46%. i could be wrong though

[Rofomet]

I changed the thermostat and it's been running fine so far. Still at 33% though. Maybe its the gauge thats reading wrong?

[tonytutino]

you dont have aftermarket gauge covers do you?

[Redline08]

mine does the same thing, i fill it to the top and then when i come home and leave it overnight i have coolant on my driveway, i check the level and i dont see coolant in radiator. Then i drive it to work and i never see coolant on the pavement again...

it usually runs at 40%, without aftermarket guages or covers.

Maybe is the thermostat but it doesnt give me any problems, do you HAVE to fix this?

[tonytutino]

just so you don't think i'm a dumbass, i asked about the gauge covers due to the fact alot of them come unglued and cause your needle not to move all the way.

[Rofomet]

The main problem is that it randomly steams off. It's been running fine so far with the thermostat change.

[vile_v]

I have the same issue with my car. At first it would be aroun 33% on the meter, after a coolant drain and fill the needle eventually stayed still at 46-50%. Than one day i noticed that my car was steaming alot, got a mechanic friend of mine.. he did a more proper drain and flush. Now on the meter it jumps between 46-80%
Says I might have a bad head gasket haven't had the time to change it so im not sure

[Bitter]

start with a new radiator cap and hoses/clamps.

[vile_v]

the coolant is coming from the coolant reservoir, its so hot that its steamy.

is that the same for anyone else?

[azian_advanced]

i know that if you top off you radiator fluid when the coolant is already hot and you drive around, the expanded (hot) coolant plus the extra pressure from driving around will push the excess coolant into the coolant reservoir bottle. when it goes into the bottle, the coolant comes out from the little hole at the top of the neck. that's why you see coolant on your driveway after filling up.

also, make sure you use those bleeder funnels when adding coolant to make sure there's no air in the system, as it may be the cause of you getting hot temperatures or cause your engine to overheat.