What gives? (antifreeze)

[94cdx]

Sup, everybody
I don't post here much, but I've found this site to be probably the best source of inof. when it tcome to questions about my civic than anywhere else on the web, and certainly bette than most mechanics. Check it out:
I getting my '94 civic dx up and running now. I'm not driving it, yet, but just starting it up about every 2 days or so and letting the engine run (it's freezing here in NYC, and my car is about 15 miles from my home in a yard). Now, I put some anit-freez in, filled the bottle up to just under the Max line, and let the engine run for awhile, turned it off then came back three days later. When I checked, the anti-freez was down below the min. line, so I filled it up again to just under max, and warm the engine for awhile. I came back two days later, and the same thing had happened again. Do I have a leak, or is this cold weather draining my antifreeze even when the car isn't being started.
Everytime before I leave the car, I check the anti-freez, and it is at the max line.
Help, if you can.

 

[a100100]

chances are good you have a leak. check the lower radiator hose and also check block drain towards the firewall...might be stripped. after that, check under (or at base of) timing belt cover...might be the water pump leaking. that was the case in my accord way back when. actually ate through my timing belt...that sucked.

 

[steve98ex]

yeah sounds like a leak, check your oil too, just too make sure its not a head gasket issue

 

[uncivil]

Wrong forum, unless you have pics. of Anti-freeze all over your car.

 

[x007den]

Originally posted by steve98ex
yeah sounds like a leak, check your oil too, just too make sure its not a head gasket issue

 

[nd4sped]

Originally posted by steve98ex
yeah sounds like a leak, check your oil too, just too make sure its not a head gasket issue

Yep, you can tell this is happening by a bluish whitish color in exhaust while the car is running...

 

[Rick James]

Originally posted by steve98ex
yeah sounds like a leak, check your oil too, just too make sure its not a head gasket issue

head gasket issues suck

 

[lj17]

i agree with the others that its is a leak. if it is full when you leave and low when you come back, i would guess that the leak is lower in the cooling system. maybe at the base of the radiator. you could try not running the car for several days and see what happens. it could possibly only be leaking when the coolent gets warmed up, say, if your leak is higher in the system. this could maybe help you pinpoint the problem.

 

[rumracer]

Does it smell at all?
K