So I'm pretty sure the coolant seals are gone on the car I just bought. Overheated last night driving home. This morning topped off coolant cranked the car with rad cap off. Fluid goes down so I added more coolant while it's running and it fills up and then just bubbles and goes back down. White smoke. I fear the worst..... Any hope guys?

 

The only sure fire way to verify that is to pressurize the system with the engine off. Harbor freight sells coolant system pressure testers. If the coolant seals are blown, it'll hydro-lock the engine. Pull the spark plugs and spin the engine over to see if it shoots coolant out.

Otherwise, if you don't feel like buying one of those you can start with basics like replacing the thermostat, water pump, and verifying that there aren't isn't anything blocking airflow to the radiator. Also, make sure you have the under-car cooling panel.

 

Pull egi fuse out, take rad cap off and fill with more coolant. Crank the car, does it sit and not shoot coolant out? If it doesn't your fine. If it does shoot like a geyser then you know it's shot because of pressure in the system.

 

"Pull the spark plugs and spin the engine over to see if it shoots coolant out."
Let the car sit a bit and try this. It's free and a really good way to find out fast.

 

The way I described is the best way. You will physically see if you have a bad coolant seal from the combustion, when cranking over. Egi fuse off, with filler cap full.

 

TRied the egi fuse. It won't crank with the fuse out. Put it back in and it smokes like crazy

 

The car should crank without the fuse in the engine bay fuse box. All it does is kill the ecu signal. So spank and fuel isn't there.

Are you sure you pulled the right fuse? It's the last fuse that is 60amps I believe, it's a pinkish color.

What does the smoke smell like.

 

The smoke doesn't smell sweet like everyone says. I'm just guessing it's the seals becuase it didn't smoke at all before. Can overheating cause the seals to go? I'm sure it was the egi fuse it was the last fuse and labled egi on the fuse cover

 

Yes overheating can cause the coolant seals to go... but as far as the coolant system tester you can get one on the loan a tool program at Autozone. Hook it up to where your radiator cap goes and pump the system up to like 20 psi or something. If you have a leak you will be able to either hear or see it, and the pressure will just bleed off.

 

It might be worth trying but I'm pretty sure it's done. No other way to explain the coolant going down and the massive amounts of smoke.

 

Sure there is. If it's boiling over when overheating, then you're going to lose some coolant.

And if the coolant seals are completely missing, then it'll shoot coolant out the radiator cap while cranking. Otherwise, if it's a small crack in a coolant seal somewhere then it probably won't shoot out.

You can probably let the car warm up, then shut it off, let it sit, remove plugs, crank over (unplug CAS or remove EGI fuse), watch for coolant puking out.

Like I said though, the best way to test it is to pressurize it. If no problem is found, start by replacing your thermostat.