Ok. I have an '87 N/A. It has a coolant leak. It passed the o-ring test. I looked at the heater hose under the oil filter(oil leak from there that I just discovered today). That hose is almost totally gone. But, if that hose is for the heater, doesn't it only get used when the heater is turned on? Is it possible for coolant to leak out of that hose even when the heater is not being used?

 

yep.

that hose is full of coolant all the time. heater is always hot, just not always being ducted through the car.

 

Ok! Thanks. That's prolly where my leak is. I heard from somewhere that it's better to buy the actual OEM heater hose instead of some bulk heater hose from like pep boys. Is that true?

 

Yes.. Mazdatrix sells them or get it from Mazda.

 

Ok. Thanks a lot!!

 

Make sure you cover the new hose with RTV (black looks good, but any color will do) on the portion next to the engine/ under the filter, to prevent the new hose from getting saturated with oil...

 

Eh, I should have coated my replacement hose with RTV. Think a few oil changes worth of oil dumped on it will prevent RTV from sticking?

The biggest problem with that hose is that it's impossible to find from anywhere but a RX-7 specific store (or Mazda dealer).

-=Russ=-

 

Yeah, RTV won't stick to oil. You could try to get some solvent and "soak" it all up...

That hose is getting more expensive, too. Last time I checked at Mazdatrix, it was up to $31...

 

i ordered it from napa (its listed for auto only but it works on the stick). for 18$....then again i get a nice discount