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

oil in antifreeze, need help plz

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 25, 2001 | 12:40 PM
  #1  
XiaoMing's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal sunnyvale
Unhappy oil in antifreeze, need help plz

hi guys.. i recently bought a 1987 na rx7 with 150k miles on the motor
everything seems okay cept there's oil in the antifreeze compartment, which i've read is a problem, but i do not know the extent of the problem because the article did not go into detail about it, i was just happy it did not have the hesitation at 3800 rpm

can someone tell me if this problem is very bad or easily repaired or needs to be repaired at all?
thanks in advance!
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2001 | 01:38 PM
  #2  
Brian_TII's Avatar
Full Member
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Marietta, GA
I SERIOUSLY doubt that you really have oil in your anti-freeze. You probably just have gunk in there that is "oily like stuff"... it is especially common if you use Redline Water Wetter. The best thing to do would be to flush your cooling system and see if it comes back. (I would expect some to still exist even after flushing, but it should be less)

BTW- I freaked out with my car and thought the same thing when I first got it...

Good luck,
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2001 | 02:27 PM
  #3  
XiaoMing's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal sunnyvale
thanks
Reply
Old Dec 25, 2001 | 06:26 PM
  #4  
XiaoMing's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal sunnyvale
hhmm *bumps thread up a bit*
anyone else have any ideas?
cuz this is quite a dirty layer floating above my antifreeze
i just wanna be sure there's no problem w/ my engine
i dont wanna hafta spend 40 bux to flush the thing and then have more oil leaking out

is this a major problem if it is?
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2001 | 02:07 AM
  #5  
NathanRX7's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Hayward, CA
If you have oil in your coolant, that generally means that your coolant seals are going out, or they already have, and your engine needs rebuilt or replaced. One way to check this is to start the engine with the radiator cap removed, and see if you get bubbles coming out, or coolant shooting out. If all is good, when you rev the engine, the coolant should get sucked down, not fly out. Good luck.
Reply
Old Dec 26, 2001 | 02:32 AM
  #6  
ReZ311's Avatar
KM48 Burnout
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 1
From: Ventura County, CA
Pull your radiator cap off , pull off the spark plug wires, and start your engine. If the coolant flies in the air, your motor is blown/Water seals or jackets you amy call them are destroyed. Time for an engine rebuild if you find the coolant shooting in the air when you start it.

If it doesn't, then I don't know how in the hell it is getting in there, other than that it has a broken water seal/jacket.

I think this is what happened to your engine. Do you see the black smudge? Water jacket going out. I may be wrong abotu your car though. Your description sounds like my last motor that went south from a water jacket. Oil in the coolent.

Reply
Old Dec 27, 2001 | 09:10 PM
  #7  
RX-7Impreza's Avatar
I am the Anti-Ch(rice)t
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 0
From: Savannah, GA
Originally posted by NathanRX7
If you have oil in your coolant, that generally means that your coolant seals are going out, or they already have, and your engine needs rebuilt or replaced. One way to check this is to start the engine with the radiator cap removed, and see if you get bubbles coming out, or coolant shooting out. If all is good, when you rev the engine, the coolant should get sucked down, not fly out. Good luck.

yeah....what he said.

Justin
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2001 | 11:53 PM
  #8  
darkwaveboi's Avatar
Need donor car in Fairfax
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
since its in the driveway..

IM gonna be doing a small 'personal' inspection. So leaving the cap off the radiator and starting the engine should reveal NO coolant shooting/coming out? alrite i'll check that out too. also, if you leave the oil cap off at all when you start, is anything supposed to happen?

I know of a few checks..but what checks could i do similar to this one (checkin engine w/out dissassembly or driving, just turning on, pumping gas..clutch...etc..) im worried about her becuase i cant afford a rebuild, but my engine is only 4 years old (new) so i dont know...damn rotarys...always making you worry :o
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2001 | 01:43 AM
  #9  
XiaoMing's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Nor Cal sunnyvale
heh if u changed oil at every 3k miles ur car shud be fine :P
hhmm so do i HAFTA unplug the spark plug wires or can i try the radiator trick w/o doing that?
cuz wouldnt i flood the engine w/o the sparkplugs?
Reply
Old Dec 28, 2001 | 07:33 AM
  #10  
SaabGuy's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA
I think what he means is try to crank over the engine and not have it fire. Remove the fuel pump fuse from the main small fuse block under the hood so your car will not flood.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
stickmantijuana
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
13
Jan 9, 2018 11:19 AM
troym55
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
23
May 25, 2016 12:42 PM
tiger18
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
9
Sep 3, 2015 08:27 PM
rotor_veux
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
5
Sep 3, 2015 07:10 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:46 PM.