Engine bay smells like coolant, car overheating, no coolant loss.
 

I have been triyng to troubleshoot my coolant system for sometime now.

When I let the car heat up and drive around for awhile my average temps (even at night with very easy driving) get up to about 97-100c. When I go to park the car I notice that the engine bay smells like burning coolant but not the exhaust side. I did the champainge test and did NOT get bubbles. I did get a couple black things that floated up which I was afraid could be carbom from the exhaust but only 2 small peices came up and that was it.

Everytime I go to check my coolant the level seems to be pretty much the same place everytime. I have replaced the thermostat with one that opens at 80 something and have checked all the lines to be sure none were kinked and I didn't see anything.

I have had friends over to try and figure it out and no one can think of anything. The only thing I can think of now is that I got the wrong type of thermostat (non bypass?), I read somewhere that having the wrong kind installed would lower cooling effeciency by 20-30%. I use about 50 50 water coolant with some water wetter.

Any idesas besides take it to Gotham, I'm broke and can't afford the labor to have someone check it out right now.

Go have your cooling system pressure tested, shouldn't cost that much.

Do you notice any power loss or hard warm start ups?

Are you using an OEM thermostat? If not, get one.


If so, try replacing the coolant lines near the turbocharger. There are two soft lines that see a lot of heat and tend to crack or split earlier than the rest of the hoses. The area is so hot that your coolant will vaporize before it gets a chance to spill onto the ground.


for instance:
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/coolant-system-experts-question-542197/

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/turbo-coolant-hoses-511629/
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/white-smoke-coming-turbo-area-477047/
http://robrobinette.com/turbo_lines.htm

-s-

My clutch is burnt up so when I give the car gas the clutch just slips. However I am not having any hardstarting, the car starts nearly perfectly everytime.

I am not using the OEM thermostat and now that I've got a little more money in the bank I plan to order one.

I will inspect the lines, I did all the work making the car non-sequential and noticed no problems with the coolant lines when I was working on it but I will check around the turbos again, that would explain why I smell coolant but don't see any on the ground. I'm still stumped as to how my coolant level is always full but maybe it is just leaking very slow.

Thanks for the advice, ordering a OEM thermostat now.

try get your hand on a radiator pressure tester that will show if you have any leaks if its not leaking check the fans are working get a new thermostat.

maybe the coolent is being evaporated?

pressure testing on a cool engine will reveal any leaks regardless of their location, yes leaks around the radiator and exhaust may evaporate as soon as they hit air due to the heat but pressure testing on a cool engine then the coolant will not have a chance to evaporate as easily.

water/mineral stains are also a good way to identify leaks that are evaporating quickly.

Had it pressure tested and it was the water pump.
Thanks for the help!