Help identifying a coolant leak

[Flygonjim]

Hey guys, my 89 BII automatic has been slowly drinking coolant. I top off to the "cold fill" line on the overflow reservoir and after about a week of light city driving the overflow will be empty, level stays high in the neck though. I also get intermittent white smoke from the exhaust once up to operating temperature. Sometimes its thick, sometimes it's not there at all. Doesnt particularly smell like coolant which is odd. Granted my nose is all messed up and I dont have the greatest sense of smell.

Knowing 2.9s my mind immediately goes to heads/head gaskets. I did the glove test and it passed -- no inflation. Then I got one of those combustion leak detectors which it also passed -- liquid stayed blue. I've checked coolant and oil for cross-contamination and have found none in either. Any ideas on what's going on here? I've read that intake manifold leaks are somewhat common for losing coolant. Is there a test for that or should I just pull it apart and check the gasket? Open to any ideas. Thanks

 

[franklin2]

You might have a hose leaking somewhere. It's hard to catch though. When it's cold, it won't leak. When it's hot, it won't leak, but as the engine is warming up, they will drip a little bit. The worm hose clamps are bad for this.

Look under all the hoses for any staining. Or better yet, take a 1/4 drive ratchet and extension with 5/16 socket, and go around and snug every clamp on the engine. 4 on the radiator hoses, 4 on the heater hoses, and anything else you have on it with coolant in it.

This happens a lot after you do some work or replace a hose. After about a month you have to tweak the hose clamps. After a few times of tightening them, you do not usually have to do it anymore.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Also, sometimes there are pinhole leaks which you won't find unless really looking. So small the fluid almost evaporates before it hits anything. Also look for signs of coolant on the tank to aluminum junction, I've found seeps there too.

 

[RobbieD]

Also, sometimes there are pinhole leaks which you won't find unless really looking.

The freeze plugs are bad about that.

 

[pacstud]

I used the UV stuff, recommend. obv won't help on internal leaks, but really good for externals.