I resently got an 85' Rx7 and it needed a new raditor, so I installed one and got the car running. After driving it around for awhile I have noticed it seems that the coolant level drops fairly fast. Like the level in the reservoir goes from full to low in like a week. I have been checking under the car for a leak but I haven't seen any coolant on the ground but Im pretty sure I have smelled coolant while driving around. Anyone have any idea what might be wrong? Any info would be appericated.

 

Check around the top of the intake manifold. The o-rings in the coolant passages like to fall apart after this many years. Luckily its an easy job. If thats not it, then it might be burning it due to the same orings, only its leaking into the intake, not out onto the engine. That would be the first place I'd look HTH

 

Alright thanks. Ill check go check those.


I also have a question about my radiator. I bought a new radiator and it came with an oil cooler on the bottom. My repair manual talked about the oil cooler too, but the old radiator I took out didn't have one on it and there were no lines running to the radiator for oil. Is my car not supposed to have an oil cooler (cus it doesn't look like it did) and is there gonna be any problem if I just leave the oil cooler on the radiator unplugged

 

Those lines in the bottom of the radiator are cooling lines for an automatic trans. since your car is stick don't worry about it. The oil cooler on 83-85 12a cars is that beehive looking thing under the oil filter. Its a pos so you might want to consider replacing it. It uses coolant to cool the oil, so you might wanna check for leaks there as well.

 

Awesome thxs for the info.

 

np hope it works out

 

The line on my oil cooler rotted away at the cooler, this is a moulded line and fairly expensive. I took the good or upper end of this old lineand added sweat 3/4 copper fittings then used the good part of the line to attach to the cooler and the port on the firewall at the other end . Band clamps on each connection, cost zilch. was making a fairly hot run when it blew. coasted to a stop with engine off no damage from over heating.