JazzRox

90 vert, 115k mileage.
So is there a way to know if I blew the O rings & need a rebuild. I read the "Over Heating Primer" & about sh*# when I got to the last paragraph about needing a rebuild.

Prior to that paragraph I thought it could have been any of the fan, water pump, or clogged radiator fixes. Its got (or had) brand new coolant, but it was 100% coolant w/ no water.

Now I blew a hose between firewall & engine so my brand new coolant is polluting the environment. Got to H twice in the last 2 days for about 3 - 5 minutes. I didnt realize how bad that was til reading here.

sonofabitch.

ERAUMAZDA

Hahahaha welcome to the blown water seal engine club. If you smell coolant when driving...u need a rebuild

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

Huh? 100% coolant? You need to mix 50/50 with distilled water not 100% coolant. It won't cool that much running that thick. Coolant is rust protection, anti gel and lubricant. It's not the coolant that cools the engine, it's the water.

Getting to "H" for a short time isn't bad. Staying there and driving for awhile is bad.

Fill it up again and check for leaks. It should be OK.

jacobcartmill

iTrader: (6)

make sure your engine is cool, take off the radiator cap, and start the car. have a friend stand up by the radiator and see if the radiator bubbles while the car is running, or even just when it starts.
if bubbles come up (or if its like a guyser) then the engine is trying to push air out through the coolant passages (blown water seal). this may sound stupid, but i'm pretty sure it gets the job done.

JazzRox

>>if bubbles come up (or if its like a guyser) then the engine is trying to push air out through the coolant passages (blown water seal)<<

Hmm...I observed this very thing when the guy was topping off the new coolant & chalked it up to a fresh flush. I'll do it again (after I replace the hose), and I'll pray the seal isn't shot.

ErauMazda: I don't actually smell coolant while driving, but every other sypmtom sure points that way.

Boosted1205:
>>...It won't cool that much running that thick.<<
K...I'll drop some out & replace with water (try for 50/50) & see what happens.

Prior to blowing the hose it seemed to run at the 1/2 way mark til the thermostat opened, then it fluxed between 1/2/ & 3/4 on the guage. Sounds like I have a prayer that the seal aint broken, but only a prayer.

Do ya think I can swing a rebuild in the driveway with a Haynes and this forum? I'm not a mechanic, but I do a lot of my own work cause I can't find a mechanic I trust.

again....sonofabitch
but thanks for the replies....and at all hours too!

JazzRox

One other thing....I don't think I get any white smoke at cold-startup.....if I read correctly, that indicates NO seal leak. fingers crossed....

Any more input?

adamlewis

If it bubbles while its being filled up for the first time or just being topped off, thats fine. Its normal.

If you blew a coolant seal, youd smell it in the exhaust. Especially since youre running 100% antifreeze. Youd also smoke a lot.

adamlewis

Its an indication that you probably havent blown one

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

Running to "H" a couple minutes and shutting it down will not warp a housing. I'm sure everything is fine. Just mix water and coolant next time. Distilled water preferrably. I've ran it to "H" when my heater hose to the firewall busted. I pulled over , called my friend to buy a gallon of water and no problem . The housing is much tougher than most people think. It's just can't handle the extreme temp for prolonged amount of time.
I think most people get too paranoid from what they hear on the forum. One guy ran the car at "H" for 2 hours going home and knew it busted a coolant hose and wonders why it's leaking coolant everywhere now.

Fingers

With my old car, I overheated it due to a busted coolant jacket, and drove like that for at least 5 minutes before I could safely shut it down. It needed a rebuild, but for a different reason. And upon taking everything apart, the mechanic checked it to spec, and nothing was warped. I needed a new rear housing because there was previously a crack, which is why the coolant jacket busted.

So overheating doesnt ALWAYS kill the engine as long as you catch it in time. 5 minutes is a LONG time to drive on an engine that's overheating.

Then again, if you have high mileage housings, perhaps they won't hold up to the heat as well as brand new ones. Or the other way around, not sure.

Anyways, just check that you're not burning any fluids, correct your previous problem, and see if it goes away

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

quote:
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Originally posted by eViLRotor
No, you young kids are quite capable of ruining the looks of a great car...
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This is such a classic line.

JazzRox

Life is good. I've replaced the offending hose (motor to heater), thermostat, and plugs(not related, but as long as the hose was out of the way....). I added water til the mix was between 60/40 and 70/30 coolant to water. 3 days of driving with the AC on in high 90's heat...no problem <knocking on wood while typing>. There's no white smoke or smell of coolant in the exhaust, so I guess the "Overheating incident" as ended peacefully.

Thanks so much to one & all for not only these responses, but for the mountain of knowledge available thru the search engine.

JazzRox

introVert

Glad to hear it. Take good care of that vert!

I'd like to see as many as possible on the road...

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

And all that worry for nothing

JazzRox

Life is good. I've replaced the offending hose (motor to heater), thermostat, and plugs(not related, but as long as the hose was out of the way....). I added water til the mix was between 60/40 and 70/30 coolant to water. 3 days of driving with the AC on in high 90's heat...no problem <knocking on wood while typing>. There's no white smoke or smell of coolant in the exhaust, so I guess the "Overheating incident" as ended peacefully.

Thanks so much to one & all for not only these responses, but for the mountain of knowledge available thru the search engine.

JazzRox

JazzRox

oops....sorry about the double post. Got a server error but it actually succeeded.