2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

coolant missing

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Old Oct 31, 2009 | 05:19 PM
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From: philly
coolant missing

just checked the coolant today and it is below the low level. Changed the radiator a month ago and checked under the car no leak at all. Is it the head gasket leaking? please help. Thank you.
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Old Oct 31, 2009 | 05:41 PM
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Rotaries rarely suffer from bad head gaskets.
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Old Oct 31, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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check the hoses around the throttle body, and from behind the altenator to the manifold, then theres the heater hoses. A few places that can go bad from old original hoses. check it out.

Worst case is your smoking from bad coolant seal, probably wouldnt notice unless someone travels behind your car and tells you.

If you changed the rad a month ago tho, perhaps you didnt get all teh air out. gotta run the car with the rad cap off and the heater on full blast for a while.
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 03:38 AM
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Originally Posted by clokker
Rotaries rarely suffer from bad head gaskets.
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Hypertek
check the hoses around the throttle body, and from behind the altenator to the manifold, then theres the heater hoses. A few places that can go bad from old original hoses. check it out.
And the heater core itself can leak, which will run run down the inside of the cabin and pool under the carpet.


Worst case is your smoking from bad coolant seal, probably wouldnt notice unless someone travels behind your car and tells you.
No need to travel, just smell the exhaust with the car parked and running. He'll smell it long before he'll see smoke from it.
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 10:34 AM
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There is probably a minor leak somewhere. The coolant is exiting as vapour but only when the car is warm. This leak may leave deposits, but probably not. In this case the quickest way to find it is to use a pressure tester to pressurize the cooling system and look for the leak. If it is stubborn, then a dye kit may be used which will make the leak very obvious.
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 03:17 PM
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just add water in today in the morning. It doesn't leak, but I didn't start my car or drive it yet. So it seems like it leaks when the car is running
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 04:33 PM
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time to rebild or get
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 04:34 PM
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if it starts smooking
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 06:40 PM
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From: Kitchener, Ontario (Hamilton's armpit)
Originally Posted by christianRX7
time to rebild or get

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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Amur_
exactly!
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Old Nov 1, 2009 | 07:38 PM
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From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
Originally Posted by kodarren
just add water in today in the morning. It doesn't leak, but I didn't start my car or drive it yet. So it seems like it leaks when the car is running
.Oh.Forgot to add.The engine will Normally NOT leak when cold.It is not under pressure...
Think of a can of pop,with a slight hole at the top..Now,Shake it...(get my Drift?)
Don't get Lazy.Get dirty,find the leak.start it up,get it warm and look for signs of coolant.
I like to Use a piece of cardboard.Drive over it and let the car cool off.The cardboard wil show ya Pretty well the area where the car's engine is leaking.
good luck.
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Old Nov 2, 2009 | 08:42 PM
  #13  
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From: philly
Originally Posted by christianRX7
time to rebild or get
is that thing works?
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Old Nov 2, 2009 | 09:05 PM
  #14  
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From: Mesquite, TX-DFW
Originally Posted by kodarren
is that thing works?
It does, temporarily. If it contains petroleum oil, which most radiator stop leak does, it will swell your rubber seals, which can lead to more premature failure in other spots. I guess if a coolant o-ring on on of the rotors has a slight leak, it is worth a shot. Worst case is that you have to rebuild anyway.
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Old Nov 2, 2009 | 09:55 PM
  #15  
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From: PA
No! Man, stop advertising that crap. It does not work. Many of the people I consulted about those products (some of these people had 30+ years on radiators and cooling systems) said they end up just making it harder to rebuild engines later and clogs radiators. I stupidly added it to my rx7 and I got about 80 extra miles out of it. Hardly worth the gunk I scraped out during rebuild and not to mention the crud that's probably still in the rad. Don't try it. Get the pressure tester and pressure test the system. You can rent them for free at many places.

And how did you jump to rebuild? It's missing coolant not pushing it out of the system. Check your hoses. Check the one on the spark plug side of the engine and also check the line that runs into the lower radiator hose too. It may be a small leak.
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