my FD finally become naughty
07-20-16, 08:11 AM
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my FD finally become naughty
Hi guys,
This weekend, over a hot summer day (+35ēC) I started the car, turn the AC on and everything looked normal.
15 minutes driving while on the highway, I start feeling a strange and strong vibration all over the car and once I reached the toll area and remove the ticket, the car blows white steam through both sides of the front wheels and a minute after I opened the hood (boiling as f*), there is literally a flush of coolant to the floor, coming in the front right side of the car.
There was never a white smoke from the exhaust nor the APEX Command or dashboard water gauge showing high temperature. Same thing back to the garage where I refilled with coolant before turning the car on again to park.
Do you guys think there is a big chance of a blown coolant seal?
*I am hoping for a bad piece of rubber tube since the car is driven only three times a year*
This weekend, over a hot summer day (+35ēC) I started the car, turn the AC on and everything looked normal.
15 minutes driving while on the highway, I start feeling a strange and strong vibration all over the car and once I reached the toll area and remove the ticket, the car blows white steam through both sides of the front wheels and a minute after I opened the hood (boiling as f*), there is literally a flush of coolant to the floor, coming in the front right side of the car.
There was never a white smoke from the exhaust nor the APEX Command or dashboard water gauge showing high temperature. Same thing back to the garage where I refilled with coolant before turning the car on again to park.
Do you guys think there is a big chance of a blown coolant seal?
*I am hoping for a bad piece of rubber tube since the car is driven only three times a year*
Last edited by FD3SPT; 07-20-16 at 08:15 AM.
07-20-16, 11:14 AM
#2
You won't know is if your engine is damaged until you actually get in there and find out.
1) Check your hoses for obvious ruptures. If you find any replace that hose
2) Add coolant (or water as long as you drain your system afterwards), check for leaks
3) Fire it up. See if it is runing ok and check for leaks. Keep in mind that even if the car runs ok you are not out of the woods. Because if you find that your car spits out coolant through the reservoir and or has unexplained coolant loss you may have a coolant seal problem.
I'll be honest though I really do not like this:
It appears that you may have over heated your engine but you never know so don't lose hope.
1) Check your hoses for obvious ruptures. If you find any replace that hose
2) Add coolant (or water as long as you drain your system afterwards), check for leaks
3) Fire it up. See if it is runing ok and check for leaks. Keep in mind that even if the car runs ok you are not out of the woods. Because if you find that your car spits out coolant through the reservoir and or has unexplained coolant loss you may have a coolant seal problem.
I'll be honest though I really do not like this:
"I start feeling a strange and strong vibration all over the car and once I reached the toll area and remove the ticket, the car blows white steam through both sides of the front wheels"
but you never know so don't lose hope.
07-20-16, 04:39 PM
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From the event I suspected the leak was from the right side (splash drops), next to the reservoir. I removed the right headlight and protective trays underneath. The radiators are clean and no evident marks but there is residue on the right side of the tray and the top of the reservoir does seem a bit dirty too - although that plug is well connected.
After this, I started the car and let it idle for 15 minutes where the temperature would reach 94ēC, the fan would kick in and lower to 90ēC before kicking in again. Everything fine. Gauges also ok and I tried to find bubbles through the caps but all fine.
Does the AC somehow interfere with the cooling system in a negative way like helping creating heat?
Tomorrow I will repeat the process above.
Could this be an unique situation where before getting to the highway I was stopped for 5-10 minutes setting a GPS (I know, tricking address, bear that in mind..), AC on, under hot temperature - 2 PM, etc, that helped the temperature to scale below the hood and the gauges not detect anything because it was not directly affected by the coolant system and the leak would be just overall pressure?
The car did run normal to the mechanic shop and back home - didn't push the gas..
I also found a broken tube (last attached photo) which I don't know what it does..
After this, I started the car and let it idle for 15 minutes where the temperature would reach 94ēC, the fan would kick in and lower to 90ēC before kicking in again. Everything fine. Gauges also ok and I tried to find bubbles through the caps but all fine.
Does the AC somehow interfere with the cooling system in a negative way like helping creating heat?
Tomorrow I will repeat the process above.
Could this be an unique situation where before getting to the highway I was stopped for 5-10 minutes setting a GPS (I know, tricking address, bear that in mind..), AC on, under hot temperature - 2 PM, etc, that helped the temperature to scale below the hood and the gauges not detect anything because it was not directly affected by the coolant system and the leak would be just overall pressure?
The car did run normal to the mechanic shop and back home - didn't push the gas..
I also found a broken tube (last attached photo) which I don't know what it does..
Last edited by FD3SPT; 07-20-16 at 04:51 PM.
07-20-16, 04:59 PM
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So your OEM temp gauge and the reading on your PFC commander never showed anything high?
If your fans aren't working properly then idling for an extended period of time spells disaster.
Sounds like coolant boiled over in your overflow tank, which isn't part of the pressurized system and has a vent at the top.
In the third pic---is the other part of the broken hose on the black front turbo inlet elbow? Hard to tell if that's where it's going. Those hoses go to the rat's nest hard lines and are for your oil metering nozzles and your Oil Filler/crankcase vent IIRC.
If your fans aren't working properly then idling for an extended period of time spells disaster.
Sounds like coolant boiled over in your overflow tank, which isn't part of the pressurized system and has a vent at the top.
In the third pic---is the other part of the broken hose on the black front turbo inlet elbow? Hard to tell if that's where it's going. Those hoses go to the rat's nest hard lines and are for your oil metering nozzles and your Oil Filler/crankcase vent IIRC.
07-20-16, 05:43 PM
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So your OEM temp gauge and the reading on your PFC commander never showed anything high?
If your fans aren't working properly then idling for an extended period of time spells disaster.
Sounds like coolant boiled over in your overflow tank, which isn't part of the pressurized system and has a vent at the top.
If your fans aren't working properly then idling for an extended period of time spells disaster.
Sounds like coolant boiled over in your overflow tank, which isn't part of the pressurized system and has a vent at the top.
The time I looked to them, they were all normal and the PFC is showing as precise as it can judging the time the fan is triggering and re-triggering.
Would it be possible to the boiled coolant to come out and still keep the plastic cap there rather then being loose? It was a lot of pressure and liquid popping..
In the third pic---is the other part of the broken hose on the black front turbo inlet elbow? Hard to tell if that's where it's going. Those hoses go to the rat's nest hard lines and are for your oil metering nozzles and your Oil Filler/crankcase vent IIRC.
Last edited by FD3SPT; 07-20-16 at 05:56 PM.
07-22-16, 09:31 AM
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Evidence seems to lead that my problem was caused by a bad driver under hot weather - idleing outdoor for 10 minutes under a hot sun, and somehow when I start driving, the temperature was already boiling from no air being forced through the front. Eventually when I stopped again it steamed off through the vent hole in the coolant tank - the small sponge is still wet, there are dry liquid marks on top and on the tray underneath.
Will put the headlight back on, do some driving at night and keep an eye on temperatures and coolant levels.
Did a cold start for the bubble test thingy. Also learn about that vent hole.
On the same day this happen, early in the morning, the brake pedal rubber bumper for the sensor fell off (too dry and broken). Made a video to show where to look at if anyone finds it helpful.
If someone can explain a bit more clear - like I am 3yo - that broken hose in the third photo posted above I would be grateful.
Will put the headlight back on, do some driving at night and keep an eye on temperatures and coolant levels.
If someone can explain a bit more clear - like I am 3yo - that broken hose in the third photo posted above I would be grateful.
07-22-16, 10:37 AM
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