Coolant issues

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:50 am

hey guys.

Driving home a few weeks ago, my lower coolant hose blew. I lost all my coolant, but caught it before my engine blew up. Anyway, I have replaced the the lower coolant hose, filled the coolant and overflow bottle back up. I took it for a drive for about 15 minutes and parked it on my driveway. Anyway, a few days later, I noticed a pile of cooland on the ground again. I checked, and radiator seems empty (Not sure, just can't see any up top anymore). The overflow bottle is now COMPLETELY full. Instead of just at the max level. Also there is a little bit of coolant in some random places, and it feels like there are a couple drips of cooland where you bleed all the coolant out at the bottom of the radiator. (Maybe ran down radiator to it as it is the lowest point).

Could this be the thermostat needing replacing or is something else going on? Cheers.

redzone · Post by **redzone** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:19 am

Could be a blown head gasket, thermo won't cause that. Bhg can cause it to pressurise & blow all the water into the overflow, then they trend not to suck the water back in. also check your rad cap & line to the overflow for holes/leaks

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:17 pm

So I may not have caught it soon enough then... I don't think there is anything wrong with the cap or line to the overflow bottle. Damn, I was hoping to keep the motor after I pull it out in 3 months time. Damn, there goes the cruise

thrash · Post by **thrash** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 2:03 pm

you might have the overflow bottle cap hoses the wrong way around.

Check that the port that goes down into the coolant in the overflow bottle is connected to the radiator hose and not to the open hose.

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:48 pm

the setup hasn't changed and was working perfectly fine before I blew the lower hose, so I doubt that very much.

thrash · Post by **thrash** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:15 pm

unless you've already given up and want to blow money on a headgasket change or throw away the motor, check it anyway? It's an easy enough thing to check for ;)

kiwieurospec · Post by **kiwieurospec** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:27 am

Sounds like a radiator cap problem without any other info.

Run the car from cold with the cap off, don't fit the cap until thermostat has opened. (both radiator hoses warm) Signs of bhg if it pushes out alot of water or bubbles inside radiator or heater doesn't work.

If you suspect bhg add a sealwel to the water, it'll most likely get you through three months.

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 8:44 am

Hey guys.

I was going to run the bubble test tomorrow when I am off. Its not the end of the world for me, and I wouldn't fix it if it was in fact a blown head gasket as I am building my new motor in July anyway. Just would love to take the car on the QLD Starion Cruise

Will let you guys know what I find.

NXTIME · Post by **NXTIME** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:58 pm

Chemi-weld may be a temporary solution :D

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:00 pm

Hey guys.

Didn't see any coolant in the sump when checking the dipstick. Ran the car with the radiator cap off and it didn't bubble, just flowed as it should. Inspected the hoses to the radiator overflow and its all hooked up fine and doesn't appear to have any leaks. The Radiator cap on the other hand, the seals are cracked and old. I think this is the problem. Will try and get a new one tomorrow when shops are open and see if that fix's it. Here is hoping.

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:30 pm

Good news. New radiator cap = win. No blown head gasket. Looks like I can still make the QLD Cruise after all. Am heading down to NSW tomorrow for a week so will take it for a nice drive after then. Can't take the starion as it doesn't have enough room for everything :(

thrash · Post by **thrash** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 3:36 pm

lol, NSW is what, a 20 minute drive for you? :P

Good to hear it was just the radiator cap :beer

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:39 am

haha yes its a 20 minute drive. But I am currently in Wangi Wangi (20-30min from newcastle). Heading to Sydney tomorrow to take my daughter to taronga and maybe see the city a little. I have heaps of family in cessnock, wangi, and surrounding areas.

enthuzed · Post by **enthuzed** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:09 am

WidebodyWoody wrote:Good news. New radiator cap = win. No blown head gasket. Looks like I can still make the QLD Cruise after all. Am heading down to NSW tomorrow for a week so will take it for a nice drive after then. Can't take the starion as it doesn't have enough room for everything :(

That is a huge win Woody! To replace a blown LOWER radiator hose and then a replacement cap....someone or something is looking after you!

Website · Post by **WidebodyWoody** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:23 am

Yep it is a huge win. I am just glad it was those. In the end it wouldn't matter as I am building the new motor but it is good that I can take her on the next cruise still.

Austarion

Coolant issues

Coolant issues

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