i bought an rx7, 86 about 5 days ago. Just today i noticed it overheating, almost hitting the red bar at the top of the temp gauge. It even heats up steadily as it idles. Then again i drove it home from work and it was fine. Ive been starting it up and it overheats again. Any surefire ways of telling if the engine is bad.

 

Ok..it overheated.Have you checked the coolant in the system Since then?..or have you been driving around?...the engine will Go Bad,If you don't Find out WHY the engine overheated.It could simply be because it had low coolant,and if so,why did it have low coolant..Fill the coolant system up,Burp the system,Check for leaks.

 

engine finally cooled down. It was only hot for two 8 mile trips or so. The problem was the coolant... -_- What the real problem though was the filler was tippity top. The actual direct to radiator filler was pretty much bone dry. I had to put over a gallon of water in there to fill her back up. I think its a brand new radiator, koyo. I couldnt find any leaks so its possible ive just been driving it like that? Not sure but its running real cool right now. Thanks again for the help.

 

I doubt the engine has any problems... yet.

If the problem comes and goes you probably have a stuck thermostat. Replace the thermostat, or at least remove that piece of garbage until you can get a new one. Regardless, get an OEM thermostat (www.racingbeat.com, www.mazdatrix.com, www.rx7.com or any Mazda dealer). Running without any thermostat isn't ideal for a variety of reasons I won't get into, but it's okay. It's certainly minor compared to completely and utterly destroying your engine.

Or maybe you were just low on coolant, or you have a leak that made you low. Regardless, check your coolant level regularly.

Please please don't get a major overheat - i.e., coolant boiling, steam pouring out, and continuing to drive and drive... Then you will totally destroy your engine.

Also look up general cooling system maintenance in some kind of service manual. It's the #1 biggest thing you can do to make sure your engine lasts. Maybe it's because people are always so obsessive about always doing it, but I've never heard of anyone having problems from not changing their oil. Cooling OTOH...

 

Take a look under the water pump... mine leaks from there on occasion. Gotta top it off every other day.

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/cooling.htm