White Spots on Intake - Sign of coolant leak??

JELynch3 · 08-19-2020, 04:01 PM

Hello all,

This is my first post. I am currently shopping around for 6th gen Camaros. The one at the top of my list is a yellow 2016 Camaro 2SS. It has fair AutoCheck history and I like the looks of it. My only issue with the listing is the picture of the engine bay, which I have attached to this post. You can see white spots/crust all over the intake tube and some of the surrounding area. From some research, it seems likely to be a coolant leak. This Camaro was most recently owned in Wisconsin, which typically has harsh winters and means that it was exposed to a lot of salt. I suppose it could be salt from dried salt water getting inside, but I'm a pessimist. It has an Anderson COPO carbon fiber hood, so I'm not sure if this aftermarket hood would be more likely to let salt water in the engine bay.

Now, obviously I would pay to have a mechanic look at this vehicle before purchasing, but I'd like to know everyone's opinion. Does this look like a coolant leak as I suspect? Would this deter you from buying if it was a coolant leak an the vehicle was still under the manufacturer's powertrain warranty?

Thank you to everyone in advance for your help.

avalonandl · 08-19-2020, 04:38 PM

No, the rubber ages and gets that coloration. You can try armor all..

SSDan · 08-19-2020, 04:39 PM

Looks like a dirty engine compartment to me. The white chalky look on the intake tube is something I get a little of over time but I keep it cleaned off. I'd go ahead with the mechanic inspection and see what he says.

As to coolant leaks - I've not seen that as a common issue brought up on this forum.

Good luck!
.

TJay74 · 08-20-2020, 02:22 PM

That is normal, it is oxidation of the rubber inlet hose that goes from the throttle body to the airbox. It is harmless other than detracting from the eyes.

JELynch3 · 08-20-2020, 03:57 PM

Thank you all for your replies! I'm glad to hear that it looks "normal" and not like a coolant leak. I'll go go ahead and have a mechanic check it out and let y'all know what they say.

squish72 · 08-20-2020, 06:35 PM

Road salt does that

JELynch3 · 08-24-2020, 04:14 PM

Darn thing sold the very next day! Oh well, just have to keep looking. Thanks for the knowledge though.

08-19-2020, 04:01 PM	#1
JELynch3 Drives: 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT Coupe Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Vermillion, SD Posts: 3	White Spots on Intake - Sign of coolant leak?? Hello all, This is my first post. I am currently shopping around for 6th gen Camaros. The one at the top of my list is a yellow 2016 Camaro 2SS. It has fair AutoCheck history and I like the looks of it. My only issue with the listing is the picture of the engine bay, which I have attached to this post. You can see white spots/crust all over the intake tube and some of the surrounding area. From some research, it seems likely to be a coolant leak. This Camaro was most recently owned in Wisconsin, which typically has harsh winters and means that it was exposed to a lot of salt. I suppose it could be salt from dried salt water getting inside, but I'm a pessimist. It has an Anderson COPO carbon fiber hood, so I'm not sure if this aftermarket hood would be more likely to let salt water in the engine bay. Now, obviously I would pay to have a mechanic look at this vehicle before purchasing, but I'd like to know everyone's opinion. Does this look like a coolant leak as I suspect? Would this deter you from buying if it was a coolant leak an the vehicle was still under the manufacturer's powertrain warranty? Thank you to everyone in advance for your help. Attached Images

08-19-2020, 04:38 PM	#2
avalonandl Drives: 2019 ZL-1 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Troy, MI & Naples, FL Posts: 2,018	No, the rubber ages and gets that coloration. You can try armor all.. __________________ 2019 ZL-1 Acquired 4/23/21 at 6300 miles. Riverside Blue, A10, PDR. Traded in 2017 2SS with 6M and 32k miles. Continental Extreme Contact Sports. Now has 10,000 miles... 2012 Yukon XL Denali w/ 6.2 AWD

08-19-2020, 04:39 PM	#3
SSDan Drives: 2016 1SS 6MT NPP Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Murray, SC Posts: 2,261 View My Garage	Looks like a dirty engine compartment to me. The white chalky look on the intake tube is something I get a little of over time but I keep it cleaned off. I'd go ahead with the mechanic inspection and see what he says. As to coolant leaks - I've not seen that as a common issue brought up on this forum. Good luck! . __________________ 2016 Camaro 1SS Hyper Blue 6MT NPP 2010 Camaro 2SS Cam/Headers/CAI/3.91 gears 476 rwhp/440 rwtq (sold)

08-20-2020, 02:22 PM	#4
TJay74 Drives: 17 Camaro SS 1LE & 16 Sierra AT CC Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 2,424	That is normal, it is oxidation of the rubber inlet hose that goes from the throttle body to the airbox. It is harmless other than detracting from the eyes. __________________ 2019 Corvette Z06 2LZ A8 - Halltech CAI, AWE non-catted X-pipe, Mamo V2 ported TB 592rwhp, bone stock 566rwhp 2017 Camaro SS 1LE - Procharger D1SC w/ Tial 2" BOV & Race intercooler / ARH full length catless headers / Alky meth injection system - 650rwhp on conservative tune SOLD

08-20-2020, 03:57 PM	#5
JELynch3 Drives: 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT Coupe Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Vermillion, SD Posts: 3	Thank you all for your replies! I'm glad to hear that it looks "normal" and not like a coolant leak. I'll go go ahead and have a mechanic check it out and let y'all know what they say.

08-20-2020, 06:35 PM	#6
squish72 Drives: 2016 2SS 8AT Join Date: May 2018 Location: Nevada Posts: 358	Road salt does that

08-24-2020, 04:14 PM	#7
JELynch3 Drives: 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT Coupe Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Vermillion, SD Posts: 3	Darn thing sold the very next day! Oh well, just have to keep looking. Thanks for the knowledge though.

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