Last night my '87 TII sprung a pretty healthy coolant leak. And by healthy I mean a stream of drops when the car warms up. I couldn't determine what exactly is leaking. The leak comes from the passenger side rear of the engine. It looks like it's coming from the lower intake manifold where it bolts to the block. I can't really tell, but from the top of the car it looks all dry.

I have had coolant problems before, I replaced the thermostat and that didn't really help. My low coolant light would come on from time to time and the overflow tank would be completely full but the coolant level where the thermostat is would be low. I would fill it up and it would be fine for a while, but most of the time the buzzer came on again and it would be low again. The problem seemed to subside for a while, the buzzer hasn't come on in more than the month and I haven't had to fill up the coolant.

All of a sudden it started leaking from the area I described last night. I hope it's the LIM and it can be fixed easily. My previous problem sounds somewhat like a blown coolant seal which is pressurizing the coolant system and pushing coolant out the overflow tank. I hope the car doesn't need a rebuild.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

if you can get a hold of a coolant pressure gauge try this . jack the car up so that you can get under it, and low enough so that you can still stand and see the top of the engine. Pressurize the system to about 15 psi. watch listen and look for leaks or a hissing sound. if you start to see a puddle under the car. follow the trail of coolant. If its the passenger side i beleive it could be a heater hose i think there is one in that area that goes into the firewall.

Also if you cant spot the leak . and it looks to be comming from the tranny/engine mounting area. chances are that you might have a corroded freeze plug. Before i had bought my 87 t2. I had talked to the guy and put a down payment on the car. Well he called back a few days later saying that the car had started to leak coolant. But that he was going to take care of it for me. Well we both thought that is was heater hose when actually it was a freeze plug that had corroded all the way through. The guy had someone drill out the bad area and weld it shut. a few weeks later a freeze plug behind the front cover gave out and i started to mix coolant and oil .
With luck its only a heater hose and not grounds for a rebuild.

 

Where in Iowa? I'm in Ames, and I work in Iowa City - wouldn't mind poking around with a TII. I've rebuilt my NA motor, so I have a vague clue as to what I'm doing.

The turbos get coolant flow from the lower intake manifold IIRC. I don't know if a seal in there could easily let go, but you've got coolant flowing from the housings into the LIM into the turbos.

-=Russ=-

 

Russ I am in ames also, this is Efini~FC3S from strangetalk.

A couple of things

I checked all of the heater hoses and those all checked out okay. Another thing, the coolant that is leaking is bright green and very clean, the oil also is very clean. Looks like it's still new from when I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully this rules out a need for a rebuild, the car still runs and starts ok.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

bump? any more ideas?

 

I vote for what I just had. O-rings between LIM and engine.

 

thanks guys, damn this forum moves fast

 

If I go ahead and replace those o-rings (lim/engine) do I need to use an actual mazda part or will any automotive quality o-ring work? I am hoping to tear it apart today so any help would be great.

 

Hey, drop me a ring or IM or PM or something - I'll be back in town Wed. night, and I wouldn't mind ripping into another '7. Beats the pants off ripping into FWD American cars...

-=Russ=-