Whats Leaknig?

[RDSHARE]

I have a 2001 Aurora 3.5 with 51,000 miles, that is garaged. Each morning there is a puddle of pink-red fluid under the front end. It is not transmission fluid, the coolant is orange, any ideas? The Chevy dealer, ex Olds dealer, claims that the coolant gaskets need to be replaced, cost of approx $700.00.
I have spoken to a couple of other 01 Aurora owners with the same leak. The also were told coolantand radiator gaskets. but,s o far, nobody has had it repaired. ANy body else with the same problem??

[Oldsguy]

Hmmm, if it isn't tranny fluid then it must be oil or coolant, I don't think it would be oil.....
forgot about power steering fluid but that usually isn't pink or red.

[Oldsfan]

If it's pink, and watery, it's most likely Dexcool - antifreeze. Dexcool is more pink than it is orange. If the dealer says it needs gaskets replaced, they are most likely right. We've got one in the shop now we are doing gasket work on.

Paul

[RDSHARE]

Originally Posted by Oldsfan

If it's pink, and watery, it's most likely Dexcool - antifreeze. Dexcool is more pink than it is orange. If the dealer says it needs gaskets replaced, they are most likely right. We've got one in the shop now we are doing gasket work on.

Paul

Thanks for the quick reply. I imagine that it is coolant, since the shop wants over $700 for gaskets, I am just wondering if the job is worth $700. I have 2 fellows I know with the same car and guess what, the same problem. I am wondering if there ever was a "hidden warranty" for known problems with this model year.

[Oldsguy]

I am not aware of any but it would be worth your time to check at a dealership or do a search on the internet. As to the price? Everything is higher than we would like it to be and that is mostly due to labor costs. Any service related work is close to $100/hr now depending on the area cost of living. A three hour job plus parts puts you in the ballpark.

[keith6989]

Hey guys, there is a lawsuit against dexcool because it is causing pre-mature failure of gaskets, and rusts your engine. Dex-cool is the only thing I can think of. Good luck finding your problem.

[oldstimer]

For what its worth, this sounds familiar to a well known problem with 97-99 Chevy small blocks. There would be a puddle of deathcool every morning. While the engine ran, no leaks. Pressure test fine. Next morning, a puddle of deathcool. It turned out the intake design was changed in 97 and it contracted at a different rate than the rest of the engine when cooling off. For the first few years of use, the elasticity of the intake gasket would make up for any difference. After the intake gasket became brittle, deathcool would leak, but only while the engine was cooling down.

[RDSHARE]

There are lawsuits all involving dexcool however, national class action has been denied at this time. All GM cars from 95 thru 01 that used dexcool are all leaking. My dads 99 Aurora had $1200 radiator, gasket repair a few months ago. He has contacted, as I did consumersunion and filed a complaint and in addition mailed copies of his receipt to GM demanding that they make good on the dexcool repair. Important to note, if you have had the gaskets replaced, do not use dexcool 1 or 2 cause, the same thing is going to occur. GM is now using dexcool 3, but I don;t know if it is any better

[oldstimer]

I researched a change from dexcool to green coolant in my 97 Suburban about three years ago. Water pump seal failure was a common complaint after the change over. Most believe that the dexcool goo that forms created a seal, and the green coolant washed it away. I changed to green coolant and swapped the water pump at the same time. Three years, no problems. Oh, I almost forgot, I also replaced the leaky intake manifold gasket at the same time.

[hmaez]

Originally Posted by RDSHARE

I have a 2001 Aurora 3.5 with 51,000 miles, that is garaged. Each morning there is a puddle of pink-red fluid under the front end. It is not transmission fluid, the coolant is orange, any ideas? The Chevy dealer, ex Olds dealer, claims that the coolant gaskets need to be replaced, cost of approx $700.00.
I have spoken to a couple of other 01 Aurora owners with the same leak. The also were told coolantand radiator gaskets. but,s o far, nobody has had it repaired. ANy body else with the same problem??

[hmaez]

I own a 2001 Aurora, have replaced fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator;
with no success. I should have purchased a FORD!
I have had 2 diognastics test ran and know one knows whats wrong.
Desperate for information or help.

[Oldsguy]

Originally Posted by hmaez

I should have purchased a FORD!

Not a great way to solicit positive remarks on an Olds site. Also, bringing up a dead thread about an unrelated problem to yours doesn't help either, except that the old thread related to the same year/model car as yours. I guess you are trying to imply that Oldsmobiles aren't for you. Maybe you should sell the car and buy a FORD.

[J-(Chicago)]

Hmm... This is a very interesting thread.
I converted my 85delta to dexcool, with new pump, hoses, thermostat, and edelbrock intake about 6 years ago and have never had a problem. Perhaps they are all waiting to happen at once....

[J-(Chicago)]

Oh yeah, I just remembered. I used 1/2 dexcool, and 1/2 green stuff that supposedly mixes with dexcool in my system. I wonder if that made a difference.

[RDSHARE]

OK Guys. I had the leak in the 01 Aurora. Shops couldn't fix it, claimed they tightened some gaskets, etc. The quick and easy and cheap fix was a container of Bar leak from the parts store. I think it was $2.00, I popped it into the radiator, topped it off withj Dex coolant and the damn thing hasn't leaked since! By the way, the dex cool lawsuit, was tossed.

[Oldsguy]

Man that sucks that a shop couldn't fix it. In my book they wouldn't be worth snot if they can't fix a coolant leak. Glad you got it fixed yourself and hope you have no more troubles.