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

Mystery coolant leak

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-20-08, 08:35 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
chack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mystery coolant leak

Hey, I thought I'd ask the collective group a question about my coolant leak, see if anyone had ideas for me.

I lose about a liter of coolant every 500 or so miles, and its a complete mystery to me where i'm losing it from. I have checked all of the lines and have no leaks. when i'm driving i can smell coolant ONLY while pulling a high vacuum, such as engine braking. The coolant is clean, no oil or gas in it. Has anyone had a similar problem? Do I have a vacuum line screwed up? (which i would highly doubt, since i only have 2 lines running to the engine)

Just curious if anyone has had a similar experience, it is stumping me.......Thanks in advance guys..
Old 02-20-08, 10:41 PM
  #2  
Full Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DarkSlide Turbo II's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Punxsy, PA
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have a similar problem. i dont know if it is anything like what you have but i have a leak in the bottom seam of the sub zero starting fluid (antifreeze injection) tank. like i said i dono if it helps at all i dont even know if that is a common thing. just thought id throw it out there
Old 02-20-08, 11:03 PM
  #3  
I really Schruted it

 
RX7Tuner.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Coolant seal.
Old 02-21-08, 05:23 AM
  #4  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (7)
 
Go48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Mont Alto, PA
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Check the coolant hose under the rear of the intake manifold. That hose is difficult to see so that could be the site of the leak. In that case, coolant can pool on top of the engine out of sight and slowly run off the back of the engine--again, out of sight.
Old 02-21-08, 09:45 AM
  #5  
That's notta sin.

 
YBNORML's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You might also check the weep hole on the water pump-on the bottom of the pump. It is difficult to see and any water that drips out gets blown away by the bottom pulley and the belts.
Old 02-21-08, 10:30 AM
  #6  
FKITALL

iTrader: (14)
 
The Wankler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dublin Ca.
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by RX7Tuner.
Coolant seal.
That was my first thought. Start the car let it run for a half hour, see if there are any drops of coolent under your car.
Old 02-21-08, 11:06 AM
  #7  
Senior Member

 
bboyclo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
how much would it cost to fix a coolant seal?
Old 02-21-08, 11:34 AM
  #8  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
chack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, its not the weep hole by the water pump. I changed that out a while back and the new one is fine. I will let it run in place and look for water. Hopefully I will find the leak I figured if it WAS a coolant seal i would see some other symptoms associated with it, such as dirty water or trouble starting... Thanks guys...I'll let you know
Old 02-21-08, 12:46 PM
  #9  
wannabe racer

 
TalkSick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if u have turbo housings check the coolant port for the turbo.. locate between the LIM and the engine. i spent weeks hunting for a coolant leak and after much searching i found the answer. My NA was rebuilt with TII housings, and they didnt cap the two coolant ports, as a result id draw coolant at high vac as well as see it pooling on the top of the engine but with no obvious sign of where it was coming from.
Old 02-21-08, 03:24 PM
  #10  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
chack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Let it run, can't find any water sitting anywhere.......what a good definitive way to check for a coolant seal failure?
Old 02-21-08, 03:35 PM
  #11  
FKITALL

iTrader: (14)
 
The Wankler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dublin Ca.
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by chack
Let it run, can't find any water sitting anywhere.......what a good definitive way to check for a coolant seal failure?

Some say you can smell the coolant in your exhaust.
Old 02-21-08, 03:36 PM
  #12  
FKITALL

iTrader: (14)
 
The Wankler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dublin Ca.
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by bboyclo
how much would it cost to fix a coolant seal?
Its a rebuild. Price varies.
Old 02-21-08, 03:56 PM
  #13  
Full Member
 
SkyWalker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
you should really search before starting a thread. . .
But to check for coolant seal failure with out a compression test, which would find our leak any way, the oil dipstick would be "milky", the coolant would smell like exhaust, exhaust like coolant. or you could check for a constant "champagne" flow of bubbles in the filler neck (cap off) while the car is warming up.
good luck bro.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HalifaxFD
Canadian Forum
126
05-09-16 07:06 PM
sinistersam
New Member RX-7 Technical
5
09-13-15 07:17 PM
ZaqAtaq
New Member RX-7 Technical
2
09-05-15 08:57 PM



Quick Reply: Mystery coolant leak



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 PM.