Help with Coolant
 

Well, I just purchased a Fluidine radiator and I'm waiting to install it until I can get all new hoses etc...

But I have been trying to monitor my coolant level and I just cannot figure out how! Everytime I check the overflow tank its at a different level. And when I take off the filler cap the level is all of the way full then it starts draining away!?! If I take off the AST cap it is full and stays full but I cannot keep the Filler tube full.

I filled the Overflow tank, filler tube and ast all the way full, then drove it around for a while and when I parked the overflow spilled some coolant on the ground, but I'm guessing this is because I over filled it seems how I filled the filler neck and the Overflow tank.

But now everytime i pull the filler cap it just drains?!? Do I have a coolant seal gone? there is only 13k miles on my reman. I do get a little smoke on startup depending on the temp outside, if its cold i get some smoke if its hot I get a little and its more like a puff unless its really cold but that is condensation.

Sorry so long can anyone help I have searched extensivly but I cannot find any case where someones coolant drains when you pull the filler cap.

Mitch

Summary: When I take off the filler cap it is full of coolant but then it drains!?!

Could be a leak in your overflow bottle?

I have never seen it leak from anywhere, I check it closely and constantly. The only time it ever overflowed was when I filled all 3.

You need to pressure testthe coolant system. It's not common to see a bad seal with so few miles on the rebuild but it is totally possible.
Do you notice tiny champage like bubbles in the coolant in the filler neck? That a sign of a seal failure the same as the other symptoms you describe. If the coolant buzzer goes off then you most likely do have a problem. But like i said if you pressure test the coolant system you will know for sure.

Good luck

I have never had the coolant buzzer go off. I let started the car w/the cap off and didnt see any bubbles... I'm goning to get a funnel and stick it in there and rev it up to like 1500 and see if i get a bubble bath :(

I'm still at a loss as to why the coolant drops when I open the cap?!?! I mean its full when I open it then it slowly empties?

How do I go about pressure testing the system?

Mitch

I think you may have the caps for the AST and filler neck switched. make sure the pressure cap (with spring) is on the AST and the non-pressure cap (no spring, just rubber seal) is on the filler neck.

Nope they are correct.

Anyone else wana try?

Mitch

if no visible leaks, could be leak at lower seal or the central check valve at the ast cap. cold engine, disconnect hose to o'flow at ast next time before you remove the filler cap .... see if coolant leaks there as level drops in filler neck.

tee into ast line and pressure test system.

would be normal if all the air in your system hasn't been bled out...

The only way for coolant to drain from the filler cap point when opened is if the AST cap is not holding any pressure. If you were to pull the AST cap, then pull the filler cap, you'd see the same thing occur. The filler cap is higher than the AST which is why this occurs. Change your AST cap and see if it still does this (or get the AST cap pressure tested, which is better, as new caps sometimes STILL fail!).

Ok, well this afternoon I topped the coolant off. Only in the filler neck. Then Started the car and let it warm all the way up. At no time did any bubbles ever come up at all. even when I reved it up when the car was warm.

spurvo I think you might be right on with my problem. It makes perfect sense. I am about to order a new cap.

I do not see how it could be the seals I have none of the symptoms. No over heating, No coolant buzzer, only a brief puff of smoke when I first start the car (Seals in the turbos are the cause of this I believe), Not bubbling in coolant, Over flow doesn puke coolant (only when I over filled it doh')

Any other Ideas?

Mitch

bad thermostat/ast cap... you'd also notice coolant around the cap.. if the spring/seal was bad on it..

not necessarily, if the AST cap is bad it will usually just flow past the pressure seal into the overflow tube causing the overflow to overflow.