i was on my way to the chiropractor(sp?) and i went outside got in the FD and started it, i let it warm up for about 5-6 minutes, but when i backed out of my drivway, it was missing pretty badly.
So i decided to idle around my neighbor hood for a little bit let it get 100% warmed up, so it starts running better and i left the beighborhood. i got about 2 miles down the road and noticed the temp gauge starting to rise. (not much, just a little above half way) it hadnt ever moved that far before so i pulled over.

Right as i pull into a parking lot smoke/steam start billowing out from the passenger headlight. ikilled it immediately. i walked up to where a buddy of mine works and called the doctor, and when i got back it had pretty much stopped. so i started the car back up and the tem was back to normal and it wasnt smoking so headed home.

about a quarter of a mile from pulling out it starts overheating again, i pulled over, smoke comes out etc, etc, etc. well when i open the hood i notice that the little coolant line that goes to the coolant catch can under the pass. headlight is off. i put it back on the nipple it popped off of and then i felt the main coolant hose from the radiator IT WAS FROZEN SOLID i walked back aroun to the drivers door and i hear the add coolant buzzer .

i didnt have any coolant or anything with me so i let it cool off some more and drove another half mile to an albertsons and bought some distilled water to put it the coolant overflow thing. it was cooled off after all that enough to drive the rest of the way home.

the coolant buzzer is still on, i will deal with that before i go to work today, but what i want to know is.... does anyone think i may have hurt the coolant seals with it overheating? It never got higher that the second highest mark, so it wasnt in the red but


also, how in the hell did the hose freeze? when i bought it he had just put a new thermo switch in and filled with pure coolant (not the best for cooling but it should not freeze.


this could really suck

 

not sure what to say.... when mine overheated i freaked... it was a recent re-build and all. i read somewhere on the boards that it takes about 1000miles for coolant seal failure to show. ive since passed that mark and so far so good....

still saving for a rebuild or at least a reman engine tho......

 

well, i got some distilled water in it and the buzzer went off and it isnt overheating right now sitting in the driveway. it is also idling high. 1600-1700, when it used to idle at 1200.

 

well, i went outside and it was at the next to highest mark again.


please people, i need help

 

A 100% ethylene-glycol antifreeze solution easily could have frozen.

Here are approximate freezing points for various % mixtures of ethylene-glycol mixtures:

50% antifreeze: -34F
60% antifreeze: -66F
70% antifreeze: -82F
80% antifreeze: -50F
90% antifreeze: -22F
100% antifreeze: +6F

Propylene-glycol freezing point does not get higher with increasing % antifreeze, so 100% of that would not freeze.

 

Quit letting it idle and walking away. These cars run hot anyways and when you're not moving there isnt much air circulating. Are your fans working? Try flushing the coolant system and refilling it with at least a 50/50 mix or something similar. As you're filling the coolant, you want to burp the system to get rid of air bubbles too. Fill it, put the cap on and squeeze the upper and lower radiator hoses. Start it for a few seconds and shut it off and squeeze those hoses again. Check your fluid level and top it off again. Repeat until it stays full and theres no air left in the system. Check it over the next few days also.

I actually think theres a write up on one of those rx7 sites about burping the system...hopefully I'm not too far off. Just be careful, dont let it overheat. Check all your hoses for leaks. If it starts to overheat crank the heater full blast at the floor to help the engine cool a little. Doing the fan mod would probably be a good idea as well.

 

Definately let it thaw out and this time add in some coolant. The radiator hose should not have frozen and with it frozen there is no way for the coolant to circulate into the radiator. If you live some place that freezes it is vital to have a proper coolant mixtore to keep this from happening. Hopefully you get lucky and didnt burn up any coolant seals.

 

thanks for the info, it usually doesnt et this cold here. ever.

actually it has been in the 40's and 50's for about 3 months, never freezing or anything then BOOM 15 deg and a little snow yesterday morning.

can anyone think of anything to thaw it out? all i can think of is some hair dryers.

 

Pour some gas on the garage floor and pull the car over it....when you throw down a match it should warm it up and thaw it out. Good luck and let us know how it goes!