Dripping coolant when hot, hot exhaust, anything to worry about?
#1
Dripping coolant when hot, hot exhaust, anything to worry about?
My car has been sitting in the garage since May this spring, while i did some work on it, mostly maintenance and small upgrades (HKS downpipe, fuel filter, air filter, new vacuum hoses, belts, efini Y-pipe, complete 99-spec front). The engine is stock, it has a catback exhaust from Remus. I still have the large middle cat and airpump and stock ECU.
Dripping Coolant:
So the first time i started her up last week i noticed a small drip of coolant from under the car after a while, its only there when the car is hot and the system is under pressure. It comes from somewhere on the engine assembly, and drips down on to the Turbo Control Actuator. It may or may not have been like this for a long time since i dont park it where i can notice things like this often. Anyone got some pointers to what it can be and if it is a problem or not? As of now my plan is to just keep the overflow tank filled up and keep an eye on it.
Hot exhaust:
Secondly, i am worried about exhaust temps. How much heat should i expect from the rear mufflers? After a quick drive yesterday i parked the car and the rear muffler tips was very hot (i would burn my hands if i touched it, and the bumper was also hot) Also given that i have never really checked the temps on it before i dont have a benchmark. My first thought is that the HKS downpipe with exhaust bandage will move some heat that used to be trapped in the engine bay, back towards the muffler.But i also know that hot exhaust means its running lean, but i also know that rotary exhaust is supposed to be hot. So i dont really know, but my fear is that i may have bungled up the vacuum somehow, and its running lean because of that. Is there ny way to check if its running lean except getting a wideband? Also, i am worried that my rear bumper is gonna start melting.
Thanks for any help #rotaryparanoia
Dripping Coolant:
So the first time i started her up last week i noticed a small drip of coolant from under the car after a while, its only there when the car is hot and the system is under pressure. It comes from somewhere on the engine assembly, and drips down on to the Turbo Control Actuator. It may or may not have been like this for a long time since i dont park it where i can notice things like this often. Anyone got some pointers to what it can be and if it is a problem or not? As of now my plan is to just keep the overflow tank filled up and keep an eye on it.
Hot exhaust:
Secondly, i am worried about exhaust temps. How much heat should i expect from the rear mufflers? After a quick drive yesterday i parked the car and the rear muffler tips was very hot (i would burn my hands if i touched it, and the bumper was also hot) Also given that i have never really checked the temps on it before i dont have a benchmark. My first thought is that the HKS downpipe with exhaust bandage will move some heat that used to be trapped in the engine bay, back towards the muffler.But i also know that hot exhaust means its running lean, but i also know that rotary exhaust is supposed to be hot. So i dont really know, but my fear is that i may have bungled up the vacuum somehow, and its running lean because of that. Is there ny way to check if its running lean except getting a wideband? Also, i am worried that my rear bumper is gonna start melting.
Thanks for any help #rotaryparanoia
#2
Rotary Motoring
iTrader: (9)
I have had a similar coolant drip on my FC that caught fire.
What happens is the coolant evaporates/cooks off the hot exhaust parts and leaves a powdery white substance. This is powder can be ignited and burn from the hot exhaust.
When new FDs burned to the ground taking out peoples garages so Mazda did some recall work to the cooling system.
Just letting you know worst case scenario...
What happens is the coolant evaporates/cooks off the hot exhaust parts and leaves a powdery white substance. This is powder can be ignited and burn from the hot exhaust.
When new FDs burned to the ground taking out peoples garages so Mazda did some recall work to the cooling system.
Just letting you know worst case scenario...
#3
A dripping coolant line is always a thing you should worry about.
Your coolant system looses coolant which is especially in case of the rotary engine a big problem. The coolant system should be a closed circle though .
Your coolant system looses coolant which is especially in case of the rotary engine a big problem. The coolant system should be a closed circle though .
#6
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
^Agreed. Look at the turbo coolant lines. If you "bumped" a healthy line they wouldn't leak. But they tend to swell with age and heat. They're a little bit of a pain to change but not expensive.
The only other thing I can think of that might leak in that area is the small section of coolant line on the rear of the water pump housing that going to the throttle-body.
I would NOT let it go too long. Fire hazard aside, it's only leaking now, but it may fail.
It's summer, your exhaust temperatures sound normal to me.
The only other thing I can think of that might leak in that area is the small section of coolant line on the rear of the water pump housing that going to the throttle-body.
I would NOT let it go too long. Fire hazard aside, it's only leaking now, but it may fail.
It's summer, your exhaust temperatures sound normal to me.
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#8
It Just Feels Right
iTrader: (11)
That looks like it's coming from a heater hose that connects the pipe on the passenger side frame to the water fill neck. That should be easy to replace with the intake removed. If all the hoses are original, they should all be replaced. There are three other heater hoses, two small hoses at the firewall on the passenger side that connect to the heater core and one on the driver side that runs from a quick disconnect to a pipe on the firewall. Those can be a pain to get to, but are doable. If you are really worried about the hoses breaking before you can get to them, you can bypass the heater core by running a hose from the driver side quick connect to the water fill neck. However, that won't help the other coolant hoses, the worst being the AWS hose that runs from the rear iron to the TB. The other AWS is from the TB to a tube right under the TB.
The FSM and parts fiche should detail all the hoses.
The FSM and parts fiche should detail all the hoses.
#12
Are the ones i marked in red the turbo hoses? Do you have more images of this engine from other sides so i can see where the rear iron hose is connected?
#13
Yes, those are the turbo coolant hoses. There are thousands of pictures of engines we have built in our customer gallery
Banzai Racing Customer Gallery
Banzai Racing Customer Gallery
Last edited by Banzai-Racing; 06-30-16 at 09:01 AM.
#14
It Just Feels Right
iTrader: (11)
Forgot about those suckers. Post #2 from the below thread has a good colored FSM diagram that shows the hoses (except the heater hoses)
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...thread-571088/
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...thread-571088/
#16
Urban Combat Vet
iTrader: (16)
FWIW...the nipple visible here on the rear iron is for the throttlebody coolant hose. And I wouldn't use traditional rubber coolant line if replacing. Jegs and others sell reinforced silicone in 3/8" (10 mm) that will stand up to the high heat much better IMO.
[/URL]
http://www.jegs.com/i/Vibrant+Perfor...FQYIaQodm_kOOg
[/URL]
http://www.jegs.com/i/Vibrant+Perfor...FQYIaQodm_kOOg
Last edited by Sgtblue; 06-30-16 at 03:31 PM.
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