3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Coolant level on filler neck

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-04-21, 03:09 PM
  #1  
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
kiddoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: San Diego
Posts: 126
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Coolant level on filler neck

Where should the coolant sit on the filler neck? Noticed that I can't even see the coolant when opening the fill neck, done an AST delete also.

Thank you!
Old 12-04-21, 05:15 PM
  #2  
Built Not Bought

iTrader: (14)
 
TwinCharged RX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 4,246
Likes: 0
Received 847 Likes on 533 Posts
Should be pretty much full. Fill it so you can see it. If you drive it and it doesn't stay full after cooling down then you have a leak somewhere
Old 12-04-21, 05:58 PM
  #3  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (2)
 
c0rbin9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 762
Received 376 Likes on 205 Posts
Very timely as I was wondering the exact same thing. Mine isn't visible when opening the cap either, though my coolant was just changed and the system may still be working the air bubbles out.
Old 12-04-21, 07:15 PM
  #4  
Racecar - Formula 2000

 
DaveW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Bath, OH
Posts: 3,850
Received 277 Likes on 198 Posts
Originally Posted by c0rbin9
Very timely as I was wondering the exact same thing. Mine isn't visible when opening the cap either, though my coolant was just changed and the system may still be working the air bubbles out.
It always takes several top-ups to get it to where it's near the top of the filler neck after I drain and refill.
The following 2 users liked this post by DaveW:
gracer7-rx7 (08-23-22), Sgtblue (12-05-21)
Old 12-04-21, 09:15 PM
  #5  
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
kiddoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: San Diego
Posts: 126
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by TwinCharged RX7
Should be pretty much full. Fill it so you can see it. If you drive it and it doesn't stay full after cooling down then you have a leak somewhere
Dang so I have been driving it without it being full, full as in its close to the nipple on top of the filler neck right? Like near the cap?

Originally Posted by c0rbin9
Very timely as I was wondering the exact same thing. Mine isn't visible when opening the cap either, though my coolant was just changed and the system may still be working the air bubbles out.
I didnt even think about the air bubbles haha

Originally Posted by DaveW
It always takes several top-ups to get it to where it's near the top of the filler neck after I drain and refill.
Thank you!
Old 12-05-21, 10:41 AM
  #6  
Boilermakers!

iTrader: (157)
 
ZE Power MX6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 3,691
Received 359 Likes on 263 Posts
Should be near the top if you fill it correctly, even during the first fill. Mine might drop 1/8" during first drive after first fill, then should stay right near the hole that goes to the reservoir after topping it off.
Old 12-05-21, 01:03 PM
  #7  
Urban Combat Vet

iTrader: (16)
 
Sgtblue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Mid-west
Posts: 12,022
Received 866 Likes on 615 Posts
OP, be sure to check the level of your expansion/overflow. As the car cools it should pull coolant back from there, but if it’s too low it’ll run dry.
Regardless, vacuum (on a tight, sealed cooling system) keeps the level near the nipple until the spring cap is removed. It’ll then drop a little, which is normal.

Last edited by Sgtblue; 12-05-21 at 01:08 PM.
The following users liked this post:
gracer7-rx7 (08-23-22)
Old 12-06-21, 05:10 PM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (2)
 
c0rbin9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 762
Received 376 Likes on 205 Posts
My coolant level is always well below the filler neck no matter how many times I top it up. It would seem that there is a leak somewhere. Any ideas on where to check?

Last edited by c0rbin9; 12-06-21 at 06:21 PM.
Old 12-06-21, 09:14 PM
  #9  
Original Owner

iTrader: (1)
 
Retserof's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: America's Dairyland
Posts: 549
Received 82 Likes on 61 Posts
First thing to check is the hose (an its clamps) to the overflow tank. If that hose has a vacuum leak, coolant in the tank won't be drawn back into the engine when it cools down. Also, the overflow tank's coolant level will rise until it overflows.
Old 12-06-21, 09:27 PM
  #10  
Original Gangster/Rotary!


iTrader: (213)
 
GoodfellaFD3S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FL-->NJ/NYC again!
Posts: 30,529
Received 539 Likes on 326 Posts
Question

Originally Posted by c0rbin9
My coolant level is always well below the filler neck no matter how many times I top it up. It would seem that there is a leak somewhere. Any ideas on where to check?
Have you gotten the 'add coolant' light and buzzer yet?
Old 12-07-21, 12:45 AM
  #11  
Boilermakers!

iTrader: (157)
 
ZE Power MX6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 3,691
Received 359 Likes on 263 Posts
Originally Posted by c0rbin9
My coolant level is always well below the filler neck no matter how many times I top it up. It would seem that there is a leak somewhere. Any ideas on where to check?
I suggest get a Lisle funnel and bleed the system, if you are still losing coolant after a good bleed and fill then you need to pressure test it.
Old 08-19-22, 08:14 PM
  #12  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: cornfield in central Ohio
Posts: 337
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Retserof
First thing to check is the hose (an its clamps) to the overflow tank. If that hose has a vacuum leak, coolant in the tank won't be drawn back into the engine when it cools down. Also, the overflow tank's coolant level will rise until it overflows.
Do you mean the hose that connects the AST to the overflow tank? Is that a vacuum line? I thought it was a coolant line.
This is the exact problem I'm having now. I flushed the coolant system last fall, so I thought the low coolant buzzers were from air coming out of the system, and I just kept topping it off. But on the last two drives, once the car has gotten up to temperature, it overflowed the overflow tank. Car is not overheating and running fine (well, regularly) otherwise.

EDIT: Also, how does a leak in that line cause those symptoms?

Last edited by large_x7; 08-19-22 at 08:36 PM.
Old 08-19-22, 08:55 PM
  #13  
Original Owner

iTrader: (1)
 
Retserof's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: America's Dairyland
Posts: 549
Received 82 Likes on 61 Posts
The hose from the AST to the coolant reservoir tank is a 2-way coolant line. When coolant pressure gets high enough, the pressure relief cap on the AST opens a little and allows expanding coolant to flow to the unpressurized reservoir tank vial that line. When the engine cools, a vacuum is created in the cooling system that draws coolant back from the tank via that line into the AST. If the tank overflows, the problem may be a small leak in the 2-way coolant line that allows some air instead of coolant to be drawn back into the AST. When this happens, coolant accumulates in the tank until it overflows and you keep having to add new coolant to the filler neck. Or, the overflowing reservoir tank could be due to a faulty pressure relief cap on the AST.
Old 08-19-22, 09:09 PM
  #14  
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
kiddoh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: San Diego
Posts: 126
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by large_x7
Do you mean the hose that connects the AST to the overflow tank? Is that a vacuum line? I thought it was a coolant line.
This is the exact problem I'm having now. I flushed the coolant system last fall, so I thought the low coolant buzzers were from air coming out of the system, and I just kept topping it off. But on the last two drives, once the car has gotten up to temperature, it overflowed the overflow tank. Car is not overheating and running fine (well, regularly) otherwise.

EDIT: Also, how does a leak in that line cause those symptoms?
Had the same problem with the leak, mine was one of the big hose connections for the radiator that can be seen when looking from under
Old 08-23-22, 10:58 AM
  #15  
needs more track time

iTrader: (16)
 
gracer7-rx7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bay Area CA
Posts: 9,194
Received 510 Likes on 351 Posts
Originally Posted by c0rbin9
My coolant level is always well below the filler neck no matter how many times I top it up. It would seem that there is a leak somewhere. Any ideas on where to check?
You will want to do a coolant system pressure test to identify any leaks. Visually inspecting hoses and clamps usually is not enough to find all the leaks since leaks sometimes only present themselves when the cooling system is under pressure - i.e. the car is running. Plus, some hoses are difficult to see.

I've posted about that in the past. Here's one of my threads with a tool suggestion: https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...-tool-1139888/
Old 08-25-22, 11:19 AM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
yurcivicsux's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 299
Received 66 Likes on 50 Posts
when filling the coolant back up you probably didn't remove the upper throttle hose to properly burp the system. its the highest point in the system.... once new coolant starts coming out you re-connect it, fill the reservoir to full and check it after a good run. it usually only drops like 250ml. if you don't you will have air problem over days. this is common issue for guys that don't know. if you watch gears and gasoline on youtube they struggled with this also.

Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Adverse
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
1
05-10-12 08:43 PM
RZRX7TT
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
5
06-22-08 10:35 AM
EZFD
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
2
05-02-06 03:32 PM
DHALL
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
41
04-30-03 07:40 PM



Quick Reply: Coolant level on filler neck



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:33 PM.