Possible porous/cracked block...Or just low coolant?
 

Recently (past week and a half) I have had my low coolant light come on during start up. No leaks/drips from what I can tell. It runs a bit hotter than normal, 196-200 just cruising, highest it hit was 205 going up a small hill on the freeway. Coolant is visually about 1-2 inches below the "full" line on the reservoir. This is the first time it has happened in the 6 months I've had the car. I have checked other threads and this issue is leaning towards the porous block.

Almost 69k miles, 09 LNF, date on sticker is 08/08. I did buy a jug of coolant to top it off in the morning.

Been searching around and the porous block issue might be my problem given the early build date. If the porous block is my issue, and if it is I will have to replace the block :( Would it be better to replace just the short block (Gen 3 LNF/LDK) or go for the whole LDK Longblock assembly? (Both from ZZP)

Any input is appreciated :)

Add coolant and see if it goes away.

That's what I am going to do today. Going to go add a bit until full. Hopefully it doesn't go low again.

I wouldn't freak out until you know you have a problem. If there's still coolant in the reservoir then you're doubtful to have an overheating problem. 205 is not hot. If you refill and the coolant stays level then you're fine. I had to top off like a year ago and it stayed there until August when it would lose about a pint in ten miles, and drop even while sitting. If you've had the low coolant light on for a week and a half and still have coolant in the reservoir then you're most likely fine.

BTW, you're ballsy for driving a week and a half with your low coolant light on! I'd watch that like a hawk! That's not something you want to get low.

Topped it off this morning. Now I wait and see if I lose any hah. Only thing that is bugging me is that even though it has full coolant, it's still running hotter than normal. 198-200 freeway cruising and it's about 30 degrees out...usually its around 192-194.

I don't think this is anything to worry about. I think it could be hypervigilance, or maybe because you're using the heater more it's causing the temp at the sensor to increase a couple degrees. I can't remember on which side of the t-stat and heater hoses the coolant temp sensor is, but depending on that running the heater could greatly affect it. I'm 99.9% sure the t-stat doesn't depend on the coolant temp sensor.

Okay. I'll keep an eye on it then. Thanks for the help guys :)

Yeah I have been seeing higher temps during winter. 200 or so.

As for low coolant. I had the warning once, topped it off, it's been years since.

Good luck.

I'd change out thermostat into ToughOne OE-type. Running 185-190 degrees with heater on. When heater off running at 180-183 degrees.
Here's link, Mobile: ToughOne-Thermostats Thermostat, 180 Degrees Fahrenheit 14698: Buy thermostats from the experts at Advance Auto Parts.

I see 190 in my LSJ
I see 195-200 in my LNF

Just drove freeway, 70 cruise, coolant temp went down a bit (heater off) 194-198. Might just be that I'm blasting the heat since it's about 20 degrees out :P

Just watch coolant. If porus block it usually disappears very quickly. And not just a little, entire thing.

Can the porous block occur at any mileage?

I think the porous block happened fairly early in miles. Most often I see 189 degrees

yes porus block can happen whenever. some guys have got it at 60k plus miles. iv heard other cars get it at 100k miles. guess it all depends how bad it is and how long it takes the engine to wear in those areas effected. check ur oil and see if its milky

"Porous block" can strike at any time. Mine was 72k. Stay tuned for my engine block dissection!

I'm hoping to be able to cut the crack out, take it to work, and have the metallurgist take a look under a scanning electron microscope.

coolant doesnt just disappear, its a sealed system. either its leaking out or burning off

I had a porous block, happened at 61K. Car was drinking a tank of coolant every 20 miles. Wound up buying a complete LDK engine. The LNF engine was so bad even the outside of the block was slightly porous. You could,clearly see they had a casting issue. If your not losing it at a rate like me I wouldn't worry.

Have any of you ever blown a turbo before?

Well only thing that worries me is that even after the coolant is at normal levels. The car is still running hotter than normal, heater off...

What is your coolant mix?

definitely not porous/cracked block, as someone already said, you would drain the whole tank in a matter of minutes. ask me how i know lol. and when my block cracked i saw 240 degree temp then shut it down because low coolant light came on. so its def leaking somewhere, but just somewhere small im sure. check around the water pump area too.

I have seen a couple accounts where the coolant would drain over a matter of few days.

I'm sure there are different degrees of severity.

I believe it is 50/50. Not 100% sure though since I've never had this happen before.

If you have dexcool in do not mix any other coolant when you top off.. or you'll have a whole other problem. Like someone said, the coolant went somewhere. Doesn't just vanish