1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Coolant leak

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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 11:36 AM
  #1  
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From: stockton, california
Coolant leak

Few days ago I notice my car was acting funny when I warm up my car in the morning took forever to warm up and even then it wasnt fully warmed up. So I check the fourms and found out it could be a thermostat. Just yesterday I changed the thermostat and did a coolant flush. A buddy of mine told me to look out for bubbles in the radiator there were no bubbles. Last night went out for a test run and it ran fine. Every time I start it from letting it sit for an hour or two white smoke comes out the tailpipe not much though just spits out small amounts then it goes away after 3 mins. When I open my hood It smells very sweet like coolant! So im shure there is a leak some were I just dont know how to find it. I would appreciate Any suggestion, tips, or has this ever happend to anyone? thank you
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 11:43 AM
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Check coolant hoses and the radiator? What about your temperature? What does it look like? If it were a hose, temps would sky rocket and there would be white smoke from inside the engine bay. You may have burnt up coolant seals in the engine, which would mean rebuild time. I'm afraid there are too many things that it could be. I think that regardless of who it is on the forum, they will need as much information about what is going on as possible.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 11:58 AM
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clean up ur engine so you can try and see if its coming from anywhere on the outside and check all hoses like glitch said but it does sound like a coolant seal as he said and it does mean rebuild time. if i were you and you had the cash and another car id do it sooner than later cuz who knows what else you might need.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 12:28 PM
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Check top of intake manifold too.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 12:33 PM
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if its blowing white smoke from the exaust its gota be coolant seals right?
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Midwest 7's
if its blowing white smoke from the exaust its gota be coolant seals right?
If you have too much gas it will burn white as well. I know that after having my car sit for a while and going to start it up again, there is a lot of gas and it blows white smoke - it just smells like pure unburnt gas and it only lasts for a couple second.

If the exhaust smells like coolant though, it probably is coolant seals and in need of a rebuild.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 01:54 PM
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From: St Joe MO
Remove your intake and replace the o-rings.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 02:52 PM
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Maybe there are no o-rings, like a friend of mine did once.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 05:31 PM
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From: stockton, california
Thanks for the replys fellas. I'll look into that by any chance has anyone done this? if so how hard is it to replace? any tips?
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 06:24 PM
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yeah, do a search.
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Old Nov 11, 2006 | 07:13 PM
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Almost every one of us has run into a coolant leak at some time. Usually it's the 2 ORings that seal the passage between the head and the intake manifold (they did that to warm the manifold and improve emissions, I believe). They get fried from overheating (the two occasions I've had are from the heater hose under the beehive rotting out from oil and bursting dumping all the coolant on the road: it's a good idea to replace that hose before it bursts).

Sometimes you can effect a "temporary" repair by treating the cooling system with colloidally suspended copper, which is available in autostores. But you don't do it the way they say on the bottle. You must thoroughly clean the cooling system with water, degreaser and water rinse. then the stuff must be applied in a careful manner to assure it sticks. You can lookup the routine in the forums. I install a $6 Prestone flushkit tee in the lower heater hose on the passenger side to facilitate all the flushing required. I figure to spend a day doing the routine, what with all the flushing and cooling cycles, and the temp fix lasts about a year.

Rarely, the engine must be rebuilt, but it hasn't been required yet on any of my engines.
\
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 01:49 AM
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From: stockton, california
bliffle, thanks alot for the info!!
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Old Nov 12, 2006 | 02:37 AM
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Happaned to me, except I was burning a **** load of coolant. If RX-7s could fly mine would have been a skywrighter! I replaced to o-rings and it wasn't to hard, but that didn't do it, so now I'm replacing the engine. You should try replacing the o-rings though, as your problem is much less severe than mine. PM me if you have any problems doing it and I'll try to help.
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