It's been like 30K miles since the last time I drained and filled my coolant. Yesterday while I was driving, the add coolant light came on. It took me a total of 1 Liter bottle to fill up the whole thing. My question is, did the water get used up over time or is my engine going bad, burning up water? My car has 144K, it doesnt smoke other than morning startup

 

it could be a break in the water jacket... if your coolant water looks really dirty, that would be it. thats worst case. if its not that, i would check all your hoses and see if youve got a leak, it might be very subtle. leave a sheet of cardboard under your car for the nite and see what u pick up.

 

I had the same problem with my 91. I changed all radiator and heater hoses. It tured out that the hose from the block to the injection system had a pin hole leak. I didn't even know it was a water hose. The leak was so small that it would evaporate on the block so there was no sign of a leak below the car. You may want to check that hose, maybe I'm the only one that didn't know about that one. Good Luck!

 

Mike, can you tell me the exact location please?

Thanks

 

He is talking about a 3/8" coolant circuit that runs from the top of the engine, under the intake runners, to the back of the throttle body, to the BAC solenoid. If your hose is origonal, it is probably hardened under the intake. It is probably time to replace ALL your coolant lines anyway.