LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

My coolant buzzer has been coming on briefly about once a week or so for quite some time now (3 months). I usually just topped off the coolant filler neck which remedied the problem instantaneously. I have never had to put in more than a few small spills. I never really looked for champagne bubbles because its a Malloy rebuild with 7k on it and figured the coolant seals couldn't be gone! Yesterday I happened to see massive bubbles poking up through the coolant when I topped it off. They look like champagne bubbles coming up but there are quite a few of them and they quickly add up making decent sized bubbles sprout all over the place (looks like boiling water, I can swipe the bubbles with my finger). Now my last engine went to a coolant seal and I could always smell coolant combusting out the exhaust. Now I definitely can't, all I smell is my bad turbos spitting oil no sweet smell! The coolant system has been burped, and I don't see any major coolant leaks underneath the car. ALthough there is one spot below the filler neck on the engine block that has like 4-5 coolant lines that have some coolant near where they attach, doesn't look like a major leak but possibly a small leak?

Sorry for the long post, hope some rotarheads come through! THanks...!

Trexthe3rd

Did you see the bubbles when the car is idling? If so, than most likely there is a seal problem. When I experienced the "bubble" syndrom there was no coolant smell in the exhaust. The reason is the seal can fail outwards, with exhaust gas escaping into the coolant (hence the champagn bubbles). This actually prevents the coolant from leaking into the exhaust. It continues like this for over 6 months, until one day the seals finally gave and thick white cloud came out of the tail pipe.
The best way to make sure is to take it to someone who can do a hydrocarbon sniffer test. Then you'll know for sure.

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

Would a local mechanic have the equipment or do I need to go to some type of radiator specialist?

Bummer...those seals went quick, wonder why?

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

And yes the bubbles were there while idling. Damn I just don't understand, the car didn't overheat or anything....the idle is a bit erratic (it goes from 900rpm-1300rpm) but when it sits at 900 or so RPM its super smooth that wouldnt affect anything would it?

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Umm that was me, must have took contol of someones user name Well do the bubbles make gurgling noises, and does it spew into the ast, as well?

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

I've burped and reburped! Not sure if I am doing something wrong? I took out the TB coolant line filled it to the max, squeezed the large radiator hose under the coolant filler neck to "burp" it....the only time coolant would come out of the TB coolant line though was when I was burping it...other than that the filler neck would fill to the top but no coolant would come out the TB line? That normal, or am I missing something?

The bubbles have gotten smaller, but they went from larger not looking like champagne bubbles to the small looks a lot like champagne/7up bubbles.

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Did you do the heater on trick, or burp the car from a slant. I can't remember the thread I read somewhere but, you can burp the car from a slant and that usually is one of the more successful ways of burping the system.

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

I've been searching and reading a lot, but everyone is always mixed on their explanations. "There is a good chance that the coolant seals are gone, but there is also a good chance that some small leak could be present." I guess I will just keep trying to burp the system. I do also remember when I start her up in the morning I can hear on the passenger side water sloshing about through the heater core. I know I am going to lose sleep over this, so I have to find out if it is seals or just a super-tiny leak somewhere. The best way to find that out is to either get a hydrocarbon tester or a coolant pressure tester, two things I won't be able to do today! Back to burping, and trying the full blast heater trick ;/

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

They must have did a shitty rebuild then, if the coolant seals are already toast. Does it bubble up, regardless of whether the engine is hot or not? I was gonna say as well get it pressure tested. What were the temps like when you were running it, assuming you had an aftermarket gauge, and what type of radiator fluid are you using??

Jay7 Nyc

iTrader: (3)

Are you sure youre filling up the coolant system fully? By filling the filler neck and then squezing on the main radiator hose then filling again untill your AST is filled and doing the ame process over and over? Since the FD coolant system tends to have alot of airpockets. This process is what I've learned from a good friend who knows FD's very well.. But you could have a totally different problems, but that is just my input...

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

Hey I found a good one for you by: krwgtr

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

I am quite sure I am doing everything right. I am going to just have the cooling system pressure tested tomorrow. The fact that while burping the system the bubbles had changed considerably, is a good deal! I will find out for sure tomorrow. Thanks for the input everyone!

GoRacer

iTrader: (2)

Does the coolant level rise and lower in the filler neck? ...sign of o-ring failure.

May not be the rebuild causing the problem. Have you replaced radiator, water pump, t-stat, hoses?

Have the system pressure checked at a radiator specialist shop. Most likely coolant hoses, especially the two tot he turbo.

LAMEtHIng

iTrader: (1)

What do you mean by "rise and lower"? When I am watching the coolant in the filler neck it does nothing but rise since the engine is getting warmer and coolant warming up raising pressure...I have actually noticed some coolant "buildup" its like some sort of sludge going to the turbos...may be on to something..thanks

Monsterbox

iTrader: (6)

my coolant rises in the neck when its warming up..once it reaches about 180 is almost about to pour out...i see bubbles the size of the tip of a needle that kind of hang on the side of the water..when i rev the car to about 5k the coolant drops a few cm in the neck and comes back up when returned to idel if i rev the car and leave it at 5k or so and hold it there it drops but starts rising again as if the car was idle...i am seeing a little bit of coolant loss the past few days and few days only should i worry at all..no coolant buzzer or white smoke?