The "add coolant" light comes on and I gotta add a cup of water every week. Do I have blown seals?

B

 

I hate that ****, I have the same problem, most likely a radiator leak

 

yep thats what mine was

 

Check the radiator and all the lines. If you find no signs of leak you have a blown water seal.

 

Since your coolant leak is small it might be hard to find the leak. I suggest that you do a cooling system pressure test. The equipment is expensive so it might be best to just bring it to a reputable radiator shop.

 

replace the cap with a mazda cap

 

make sure your recovery tank is not leaking

 

I'd suspect the pressure cap, too.

 

Last time my 7 had a problem like this, it was a leaking water pump!

 

There also o-ring seals in the intake manifold to block interface that like to go out....check any and all of the above before the next light to come on sez...Replace Engine...

 

add a bit of "Leak stop" to the rad, run it for fifteen minutes, If that doesn't take care of it you may have a serious problem.

 

All cooling system parts were replaced last year.

B

 

just smash the bulb behind the ADD COOLANT light.

 

Just top it off before the light comes on

~T.J.

 

I'll have it pressure tested and flushed.

B

 

A pressure test will help you find an external leak, but the best way to check for bad water seals is to remove the rad cap from a cold engine and start it. Once the thermostat has opened, look into the rad neck and check for bubbles. Bring the RPM up to 2000 or so. With bad seals you'll see anything from "champagne" type bubbles to large blurbs of air.
But if you do not have white smoke when starting the engine cold, it's not likely the seals.

-John.

 

make sure it isn't the coolant sensor... that's what mine was

 

Just drive around with a bunch of cups of water in the trunk.

 

trunk... its funny when its referred to as a trunk, i call it a shelf, a big shelf, but a shelf

 

my 83 gsl has white smoke when i start it up. what does that mean? sometimes it smokes till it is warm.