realred

OK ..first time posting...can't figure this one out... I'm losing antifreeze from the rear of the engine..or so it seems... its on the passenger side and leaks even while it's parked. its getting warmer out and the temp gauge is rising so I drove with the heater on FULL and kept it down...the reserve bottle filled up and over flowed...in one of the threads someone mentioned inner seals? outer seals?? or maybe the gasket for the intake manifold? any help would be greatly appreciated..
I'm going to get a new rad..but...now if the engine is toast!! realred...

Aviator 902S

Before firing the car up in the morning, pull the leading spark plug (the bottom one) from both the front and rear housing. If either of them have coolant on them and have nice shiny-clean white insulators you've got a failed water-jacket seal. Rebuild time. This would also be accompanied by a HUGE cloud of white smoke (actually steam) spewing from the exhaust. Another sign would be whitish sludge build-up on the inside of the oil-filler cap.
If none of these symptoma are present, check your heater hoses where they enter the firewall on the passengers' side. If they've sprung a leak the fix is simple and inexpensive.
Do not drive the car with the temp guage over 1/2-way to max temp. Pull over and let the engine cool before continuing. If you overheat a rotary, the coolant seals WILL fail. Sometimes the symptoms don't show up until quite some time after the engine was overheated.

Cuzy

I've got an 85 12A GSL too, and it leaks coolant from the intake manifold (bad o-rings, which I have replaced once before). But mine has different symptoms than yours:

My temp gauge doesn't rise above normal.

The reserve bottle doesn't overflow. Over time it slowly drops until it is empty and I refill it.

Mine leaks coolant when I park it after driving it, although it is possible it is leaking while I drive it, but it is so slight that there is no trail of coolant drops on the pavement (but I can smell burning coolant when I pull it into the garage, so it must be leaking at the time).

The first time the intake manifold o ring gaskets failed, the coolant would puddle up at the top of the manifold. If I shined a flashlight between the stock carb and the engine, while standing on the driver's side, I could see the green fluid.

This time, I don't see the coolant puddling up, so I am not 100% sure it is the o-rings. I need to put my car on jack stands, crawl underneath it after driving it and try to track down the source of the leak (coolant usually leaves a mineral deposit trail if it has been leaking long enough, which mine sure has, as this leak has occured for past two years).

Good luck finding and fixing your leak. Regards, Cuz.

realred

Thanks for the quick response..first off I checked the oil and no sign of water or film when I removed the cap...When I start it up in the morning I get a little bit of smoke but a little blue ting but then its OK..I haven't pulled the plugs before starting yet but I'll try on the weekend...and hope they are not contaminated with fluid... I will not run the temp up past half...thats why I turned the heat on so as to stay below the 1/2 way mark...and thanks for the advise.. I'm still confussed though..I'll fill the rad up before I go to bed, get up and I'll fill the rad up again but only about 1-2 litres.. start the car the water drips out like crazy...I'll take off and drive to work and park..after work sometimes I have to add...sometimes I don't...???
I checked the reserve bottle today ...It was empty..Do you's think that it could be the O rings on the intake? How tuff is it to change these O's..I presume its difficult otherwise you would have changed them again?? looking forward to replysss...realred

realred

OK..I am going nuts... today I pulled into the garage after work ..Put the front end up... took a look...NOT LEAKING...there were signs of leaks like mineral deposits etc. but it was hard to tell if it was comming from the intake or from one of the hoses that run into the wall or from higher up... the water overflow bottle was the same and the water level was the same as this morning......help..any suggestions???

timmya2

realred..

thats like mine.. but i think its only the hose that needs replacing..

sometimes it leaks really bad... sometimes it doesnt..

HMM..

im pretty sure its the hose.. the leak is coming from it

realred

Sat..had to leave so I didn't check the plugs...Started the car and ...no leaks...I drove for 1 1/2 hours on the highway ...pulled into my destination, looked under...no leaks...I was wondering if it might have something to do with the temperature fluctuation from hot to cold and the contraction...on Thursday, Friday and Saturday it was fairly warm right through the evening and night and it didn't leak...I had quite a bit of leakage when it was cold a few months ago...??any thoughts???Realred

timmya2

hmm i think it is temperature related.. sometimes mine leaks.. sometimes it doesnt..


are u sure u checked your hose?

double triple check it

realred

I'll check the hoses this weekend....let you know!!

timmya2

so anything?

realred

thanks for staying intouch...Put in a rebuilt rad this weekend...a couple of new hoses and checked all clamps esp. the ones entering the wall..changed thermo and cap...Drove to the beach and back in 34degree heat...and checked the level...FULL....I'm presuming that it was just the small hoses entering the firewall...and so far everything is great....now...how about yours..did u check the hoses yet?? Realred