Suggestions:Re: anti-freeze leak (archive)

I am losing a couple ounces of anti-freeze a week on a 1984 733i, and I don't see any puddles on the ground. Are there any obscure places that I can check for leakage? I am hoping that maybe it is seeping out and evaporating. I'm worried that since I don't see a leak, that it may be going into the engine. Would this show up in the engine oil, and would it be apparant when I change the oil? Thanks.

Check the pressure cap on the expansion tank. If there is no pressure in the system you can have coolant loss. Take a good look under the water pump. Put your finger up under the area where the shaft that drives the fan belt is located. Or use a small mirror to inspect. You may have a leak around the shaft seal. The liquid coolant that escapes may be "boiled" off due the hot engine parts. And did you check the heater core. Do you smell any antifreeze/coolant in the car? Check all the carpeting around the center area to be sure there is not leak there.

To answer you question, yes coolant could be leaking into the engine.Depending on where it is leaking it may or may not show up in the engine oil. Do you have an automatic transmission? If so check that oil for contamination. Coolant may be leaking across the transmission cooler. In that case you would also see transmission oil in the coolant. Let us know what you find.

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