What is the situation with burning coolant?
2 Answers
The system has a malfunction. Common causes of coolant loss include system leakage, radiator cap damage, coolant not meeting usage standards, and engine overheating. Cooling system leakage: Leakage can occur in many parts of the cooling system, such as hoses and water plugs. Generally, leaks are relatively easy to detect. However, some leaks are very slight and extremely difficult to find. As long as the owner carefully observes, they can definitely locate the leak and then take appropriate measures, such as tightening or reinstalling the relevant parts. Radiator cap damage: The radiator cap on the cooling system is not an ordinary cap but a specially designed one with an air valve and a steam valve inside. If this cap malfunctions, especially if the steam valve opens at too low a pressure or remains constantly open, it can cause a large amount of steam to escape from here. Over time, this will lead to coolant loss. This is the main reason for coolant loss in many vehicles.
Burning antifreeze is a common issue encountered during car repairs, usually caused by problems with the engine's cylinder head gasket or cylinder head, allowing coolant to leak into the combustion chamber and get burned. I've seen many such cases. The symptoms are obvious, such as rapid coolant consumption, needing frequent top-ups after short drives; engine overheating with the temperature gauge soaring; white smoke from the exhaust pipe with a pungent odor. If not addressed promptly, it can lead to piston or cylinder corrosion, potentially ruining the entire engine. Diagnosis isn't difficult—start with a pressure test to check for leaks in the cooling system. If the head gasket is faulty, a complete engine overhaul is necessary. It's recommended that owners replace antifreeze every two years, avoid mixing different types, and maintain a clean system to significantly reduce the likelihood of this issue.
