Dodge41

I recently purchased a 1986 rx7 with 97,xxx miles on it. When I bought the car I knew it had engine trouble so I will not be surprised if it needs a rebuild. Before I start yanking it out I would like to get some feedback on my problem. When I start the car the "add coolant" light comes on. After I run the car for a while it will go away but once the car is warm it will fill the overflow up and then start pumping air into it and will blow the cover off of the overflow bottle. After doing some research on the forum I read that it may be do to a bad coolant seal. I purchased one of the lisle funnels and placed it on the car to do the "bubble test" for a blown seal. The car is warm and the temperature gauge never goes above 1/2. For the majority of the time is stays up around 1/3 of the way. When I do the test the coolant goes everywhere. It is my understanding that if there was no problems the coolant will only elevate and fall slightly as the thermostat opens and closes. After viewing the coolant going everywhere it is my belief that I have a large leak somewhere between the rotors and the coolant system and the cooling system is becoming pressurized excessively. I am new to rotary engines so I would like to hear some feedback. The video can of what I am seeing can be viewed at:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=E48T5Xa6IgA
Thanks for any and all help

JunpoweR

iTrader: (1)

Hey man stop driving it or running the motor and warm it up and drain everything out.Spin the motor with some oil through the plug holes.You motor could still be rebuildable but dont over heat it.Even if the temp gauge stays low it's not accurate because measures water temps and not surface tempatures of the housings.There hotter for sure.It's not possible that your cooling jacket seals are blown, "They are blown!".Well this must be your first FC how much did you pay for it?

Dodge41

Thanks for the reply. When I bought the car I was looking for a project that I could do an engine build on, so I purchased it for what I thought an exellent body, interior and chassis would be worth; so I payed 1200 for it. It stated that the car ran hot so I figured the motor may or may not be buildlable. If not I have another rx7 I payed 150 for parts and it is 99 percent complete. Some say it is a high price for a car with engine trouble but the body is great and so is the interior. from 1 to 10 I would give it a 9.5. So I will know for later reference is the half way point on the temperature guage the normal operating temperature? I have not gotten pics after I have cleaned the car up but the auction pics are located at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...164092713&rd=1
Again thanks for the reply.

SureShot

Two things to check.

I must have a thermostat.
The stat covers a bypass hole when it's open.
Without it, a big part of the coolant flow never goes through the radiator.
Some old school DIY'r may have removed it.

The fan clutch is a viscous fluid torque converter arrangement.
When it gets old it slips.
The warmed up fan should speed up with engine revs to about 4K, and then hold ~4K as the engine revs higher.
If it's only revving up to 2500, it's shot. If it gets to ~3500 it's OK.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

www.aaroncake.net has some cooling system tests.

Sounds like you have a blown coolant seal though. But I hope not; don't go for a rebuild until you're sure.

After I burped all the air out of my coolant it just sits there in my Lisle funnel. No bubbles or anything. A little bubbling is normal, but it should get less and less as you let the air out through the funnel. Eventually it should be a bubble ever several seconds (or more), if at all. If you have a minor coolant seal leak you may get a slow stream of small bubbles that just won't stop.

After you think you have a blown coolant seal, take it to a mechanic to make sure. Tell him you think you might have a blown head gasket. And if he says, "Rotaries don't have head gaskets, they have coolant seals", consider going back to that mechanic in the future for other problems.