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How often do you check your coolant

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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 08:06 PM
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How often do you check your coolant

my over flow tank is empty about every 2 weeks is that normal i dont think so
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 08:12 PM
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I would say you have a leaking hose, radiator, or have blow a coolant seal.

Check the first two, if you don't find anything, sounds like a rebuild.

Am I right? I don't have very much experience.
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 08:21 PM
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teh monkey sounds right ... check that pinhole below water pump too ...
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 09:20 PM
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Coolant shouldn't dissappear. If it's not leaking externally... it's going somewhere inside your engine. Either case isn't good... but one is definitely cheaper... this should be an easy diagnosis for most people.

And I check my coolant about twice a week (whenever I pump gas). And your coolant should be cool when you check it... to be accurate.

Josh
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 09:22 PM
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you should be in love with your '7 if you pump gas twice a week :xD
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 09:52 PM
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yea for real i pump gas like 4 to 5 times a week hahaa
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 10:07 PM
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I check my coolant every morning, and when it started disappearing, I was told rebuild also. Its coming from your lower radiator hose, or your water pump weap hole. If not there, time for a rebuild. Just kidding. Warm your car up, use a black light, and you will see where the leak is coming from. If not visible, then its time for a rebuild.

PEACE THE DOG
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 10:08 PM
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Everyday, or atleast when the coolant light goes on.
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 10:10 PM
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Honestly, not often. I check the coolant level in the tank every few fillups. I know my coolant warning sensor works, and the few times I've had a leak, it alerted me fairly quickly. Also, as near as I can tell, the hoses failed sometime after I had started driving, so checking the coolant level wouldn't really do much anyway.

-=Russ=-
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 10:11 PM
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mine's leaking rite now too. i have to add coolant everytime i drive. gotta replace the thermostat n tha thermostat housing tomorrow.
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 10:39 PM
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I run heavy equipment, and drive the 18 wheeler that gets my equipment to the job site. The first thing we do daily, is check the fluids, all of them, and then check the tires. If you rely on idiot gauges, that is exactly what you are. Problems sometime develop , AFTER, your engine is shut down. Do what you wish, but I check mine daily.

PEACE THE DOG
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Old Dec 1, 2005 | 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Mombodogs
I run heavy equipment, and drive the 18 wheeler that gets my equipment to the job site. The first thing we do daily, is check the fluids, all of them, and then check the tires. If you rely on idiot gauges, that is exactly what you are. Problems sometime develop , AFTER, your engine is shut down. Do what you wish, but I check mine daily.

PEACE THE DOG
Probably true. :-) I tend to think of the idiot lights being things like "engine temperature" and "oil pressure" that you should be able to monitor on a gauge. Things like "low coolant" and "low oil" aren't usually things you can monitor on a gauge, and by the time they show up on a related gauge (temperature/oil pressure), you're pretty far down.

Checking each time you drive is best. I'll agree with you there. But I disagree with the fluid level lights being idiot lights.

-=Russ=-
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 02:56 AM
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Sorry for the snide comment. I have just learned from this site, being a new owner of an FC, that certain issues should never be overlooked, or put off. Oil, coolant, "idiot" lights, etc.... are the major factors in determining the life span of the rotary engine. My oil filter has the capacity of a cup of tea, so changing it frequently is obviously apparent to the informative person. Just a comparison.

Get my drift. I pay attention to the "mechanical" issues first, and the rest later. Appologies if my comments were misunderstood, I just hate seeing any FC on the side of the road.

PEACE THE DOG
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 09:49 AM
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I check my coolant once every two years when it gets replaced. If you need to check it on a daily basis, it probably means you have serious problems. Last time I checked, our cars burn oil not coolant.
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 10:29 AM
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I do a once a week "third basecheck"

Thats where you check all the fluids and stick your fingers in the holes.

Lots of gropping

I had to add coolant when I first got the car, but haven't lost any sense.
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Mombodogs
If you rely on idiot gauges, that is exactly what you are. Problems sometime develop , AFTER, your engine is shut down. Do what you wish, but I check mine daily.

PEACE THE DOG

a rule of thumb is dont rely on the low fuel idiot light to come on, as most faulty electronics in the FC,!!! it makes for a long walk!!!! X_x

Last edited by KompressorLOgic; Dec 2, 2005 at 02:31 PM.
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by DrewD
I check my coolant once every two years when it gets replaced. If you need to check it on a daily basis, it probably means you have serious problems. Last time I checked, our cars burn oil not coolant.
I hope all your coolant leaks out on the highway or through a coolant seal and you don't check it for two more years... how do you know if you have a "serious" problem if you don't check your coolant? Don't post if you don't have anything better to say... this is just assanine.

And by the way, it is your responsibility as a driver to make sure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition... leaking coolant (for the environmentalists), and your engine seizing because you don't have coolant (and how would you know? you don't check it but every two years) while you're on the highway makes your car unsafe in my eyes. Mombodog is right... I once drove an 18 wheeler for a living, and I'm also a pilot. Technically you should ALWAYS pre-trip and post-trip any piece of equipment you use... whether it's a 18 wheeler, a wheel barrel, or an RX 7. Save yourself a headache and check your coolant at least weekly... daily would be best... it takes about 1 minute to check all the fluids. You'll save yourself a headache and a prescious rotary engine.

Josh
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 02:44 PM
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i had a coolant leak before that i would have never noticed if i drove my car nicely...

it was only when i revved above 5k. i was at my friends and i popped my hood to look for it and we couldnt find where it was coming from. i went in my car and revved it up a bit and he noticed a sizzling sound sooo....

i revved it higher and he was able to see where it was coming from. it was a quick hose fix but...it didnt leak until the pressure built up. it ended up that it was coming from the hose that runs right above your BAC valve.
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by kompressorlogic
a rule of thumb is dont rely on the low fuel idiot light to come on, as most faulty electronics in the FC,!!! it makes for a long walk!!!! X_x
Actually, it took me owning the car for over a year to figure out that my low fuel light does, in fact, work.

The tank capacity, on a S4 coupe, at least, is 16 gallons & some change. The low fuel light comes on with 3 gal left, so around 13 gal. worth of fillup. The fuel gage hits disturbingly close to "E" with around 4 gallons left in the tank.

If you never put more than 12 gallons or so in the tank when you fill up (to pump shutoff), you won't see the fuel light.

If you've put 14 or more gallons in, and haven't seen the low fuel light, then it's defective, but it's a pretty reliable sensor (zero moving parts, seems to be similar to the coolant level sensor).

-=Russ=-
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Old Dec 2, 2005 | 09:22 PM
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Getting back to the original posting, have you found the problem or noticed coolant under the car? Hope you found a simple problem.

PEACE THE DOG
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