catch-22

iTrader: (2)

Yeeepp just a little bit pissed got to vent. So im driving back from a local meet and decided to do a little pull getting on the highway. So im in second floor it go to third and hold till redline then let off. Everything looked really good gauge wise during the pull and i just start cruising again in 5th and next thing i know my water temp gauge goes off and i look at the pfc and it was 98 degrees celsius. Luckily i was close to an exit and i cut the car off and coasted into a gas station to let it cool off.

I pop the hood and have a look and the drivers side of the engine is soaked right between the front housing and the front iron....great. Now for a little motor/my setup information. This was my third motor since I have owned the car and it was a rebuild that i bought off the forum. It had new housings, rotors, bearings, and a streetport.

As for my setup pfc, 550/1600 with all the fuel goodies. Holset WH1E, 4in exhaust w/ just a 18in burns resonator, fc1000, all tuned by brian at rotorsports racing. This setup made 423 rwhp at 15 lbs with a pretty conservative tune. I was super happy with finally getting my car up and running now this happens!!!! Man just cant catch a break.

Anyways the motor only had about 8000 miles on it and im dumbfounded. So i have decided to open it up and replace the soft seals and make sure everything else looks good. Who makes the best kit these day using the STOCK coolant seals and every o-ring to button the motor back up?

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

oem mazda

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Outer coolant seal failures are pretty rare. They don't see very high pressures or temps relative to the inner seal.

You sure it's not the heater hose quick connection or a TB hose?

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Gasket kits from atkins rotary are good.

Gurew

iTrader: (4)

which are oem mazda btw..

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

only coolant hoses on the car are rad hoses and heater hoses, and they are both fine.

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Well you could always fill it up and pressure test it before you rip it out.

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

Oh of course, today was just a really crappy day, cold and raining. Gonna hop on it tomm and share some pics too of whats going on.

alexdimen

iTrader: (13)

Alright. I know how a bad mood can cloud judgement, just wanted to make sure. When things like that go wrong it's never been worth it to worry at the time. Things always go much more smoothly when you chill out for a while and come back at it rationally with a plan.

good luck.

arghx

iTrader: (3)

dude I've gone through the whole knee-jerk "oh **** my outer coolant seals failed" deal, seals I installed myself. Turns out it was leaking from the throttlebody and running down the block. Go to Advance Auto and rent their pressure tester tool. Clean the engine bay thoroughly of leaked coolant and pump the system up to cap pressure. You'll probably spot it.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I doubt it's an internal engine problem. If it was the symptoms would be very different.

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

I have the tb coolant blocked off, but ill check when i get some light and good weather tomm and check back in.

apexFD

Perhaps the pineapple racing water seals are worth a shot? From the reading I have done it seems like a great product. I understand that the problem is likely something else, perhaps during rebuilding but they are inexpensive enough.

=Benjamin

IRPerformance

iTrader: (41)

We use Pineapple seals at the shop if the customer requests them. Haven't had an issue with them in years. Are you sure you don't have a warped rotor housing? I have NEVER seen an outer seal fail except when a housing was warped or if the seal was pinched during assembly. Also one case I had where an individual had the irons lapped and too much material was taken off. This caused the seals to pinch when the motor was assembled.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

98* C is totally normal and nowhere near any temp to be concerned. Sounds like you just have a coolant hose leaking.

Ratjar

iTrader: (1)

thats what I was going to say. my 2nd fans dont even kick on until 87, I would expect to see temps in the low to mid 90s on a hot summer day. do you have a datalogit? temps may have gone well above 95.


when my coolant seal was out it was like this

coolant buzzer- temp gauge going WAY up, and then it would drop, and the buzzer would kick off.

pressure check everything.

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

I have my fans to come on at 86 degrees and i have never scene over 90. And this wasnt just a leaking hose over time, i lost almost ALL of my coolant at once (saw the water dumping on the freeway from the rear view mirror)

Islander

iTrader: (6)

Hope you figure it all out. I'm almost ready to cruise, so we cant have your car down.

RLaoFD

iTrader: (6)

My first thought on the whole thing is that coolant hose under the intake elbow that is held on by a plastic thingy just came off. Sorry don't know the term for it.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

^^That's the heater hose line to the rear iron.

DaveW

That does not sound like a seal leak. It's almost impossible for a seal to leak that fast. I'd bet it's a pinhole or split in a coolant hose, or the notorious plastic coolant fittings that break. Do the coolant pressure check and you'll know.

bajaman

I have to absolutely agree. No WAY does a 'seal failure' lead to "all my coolant dumping out at once on the highway...".

Catch-22...keep us updated. I hope you find it ISN'T as bad as you fear.

Good luck!

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

Sup guys, so walked out this morning popped the hood took one look at the passenger side and saw the heater hose to the block just hanging there not even hooked up. WOOOOOOHOOOO!!!! The clamp and everything is still on the hose, it just blew completely off. This is with out the plastic quick disconnect too! Turns out my AN fitting at the front of the block leaked some oil down the side of the block and that mixed with the coolant spray and gave me a false illusion i suppose. Man do i feel dumb / completely relieved! Thanks for all the help too guys, happy wankel-ing.

catch-22

iTrader: (2)

haha thanks for the title change.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

no problem