My 04 cavalier 2.2 is throwing the water? it does build up pressure but still throws it. it has a new thermostat and the radiator has had a leak stopper added to it? i have not flushed it yet...

bad news if coolant not see on ground, garage floor
that means the engine is eating that for breakfast.

be more clear on coolant loss, now
level in rad next level drops each AM dead cold/?
that is serious.if yes, side tank okay.
1: not on ground
2: not in passenger foot well
3: not in oil pan, see chocolate milk look.
run enigine hot parked and with 15psi cap pressure now.... see
any leakes of AF seen now outside engine is it.

do engine compression test
spark tips nasty even same color as AF (green./pink, yellow )?
see oil or carbon dust in rad neck next cold AM test?
see steam at tail pipe engine fully hot? must not be so.
the only key fact is loss. word.
side tank (recovery) missing or broken tube or parts there)

Have you checked the thermostat? Run the car until the gauge shows normal temp and carefully check the upper radiator hose. If it isnt hot and if you can easily squeeze it the thermostat isnt opening to let water flow to the radiator. If it's opening, check to see if the fan is coming on. If that's not running, check the voltage at the fan, then the fan relay. If you aren't getting power at either of those places it could be your temp sensor.

One thing you did not mention is the radiator fan. Is it coming on at 230 degrees ? Has the exhaust been checked for a blockage ?

Sounds like it is coming from the water pump bearing seal. Unfortunatly you should replace the water pump before the bearing fails and throws the pulley into the radiator (or the car gets too hot).

Before throwing a waterpump at it, try a thermostat. If that sticks shut you'll get no circulation and overheating. A way to test, pull thermostat and TEMPORARILY run it without thermostat.I stress temporarily and just for test. You should see water circulating through radiator then. If not then you know waterpump is bad.

Hi,
Engine cooling is a team effort, ie; radiator , coolant fan , thermostat , hoses etc . You need to change the coolant thermostat (cheap ) to elliminate any coolant problems (pressure), the rest is just water managenent ! ! It's not a leak and I feel a replacement coolant thermostat will answer your prayers ! The enging only has to overheat ONCE to have a serious bill at the end of all the guess work. Good Luck

SOUND LIKE A RUPTURE RADIATOR HOSE.OR LEAKING THERMOSTAT HOUSING GASKET.

First you need to find out where the leak or area the coolant is coming from. It may just be running out of coolant and over heating. If the fans aren't on when the car is running it could be the overheating issue and the coolant is purging out of the overflow.

First it means get a new radiator cap, When the spring goes bad it releases at a lower pressure. You may need a new thermostat as yours is probably stuck open and the water pump just throws the water through.

Good Day again,

Sorry to hear it wasn't the thermostat, Other possible causes inlcudes low coolant, water pump and or waterpump belt, radiator blockage, and radiator cap not maintaining pressure. Check you coolant level first, fill if it's low, typically if it was the pump you would devolop a coolant leak as the pressure builds in the pump assembly. Check the belt though, any squeaks while running? Also if the seal in the raditor cap is bad then no pressure can build. To test the pump remove the raditaor cap (ensure the motor is COLD!!) and start the motor w/o the cap installed, watch the coolant level as it is should be going down slowly as it pumps through the system. Also check the seal on the raditor cap for any cracks's or visible damage.

The temp sensor is a possibilty but a rare one at that.

Hope this helps again