i am new to rotary and just picked up an 88 fc. she is running hot, i pulled the thermostat to se if it was stuck but she is still running hot even without the thormostat. the water pump isnt making any noise and isnt loose at all. the only other thing i can think of as far as over heating would be the radiator itself. any other ideas??
BTW she got hot enough that the turbo was glowing bright red just for a short period of idle(15mins). had a little splash of coolant from filling it and ya it kinda caught fire on the turbo... no damage done though Please i need input...

 

the rad may not be flowing like it should. may be a timing issue with the exhaust turning red. there's what's known as the "champagne" test which basically is with the engine running and rad cap off, if u see bubbles it's a sign of bad coolant seals. hope it's not that bad.

 

ok so if she is running and the rad cap is off and it is bubbling out over the cap or just like flowing but little bit of bubbles? and if coolant seals are bad what all does that entail?

 

Check your oil cooler, it's the thing that sits down low in front of the radiator.

 

what do you mean by running too hot? are you gauging that based on the turbo glowing? did you run the car hard before you noticed the turbo glowing? what is the temperature gauge reading at the highest?

 

how exactly do i check the oil cooler? and as far as running too hot. idle for ten minutes the turbo gets red hot. simple drive not getting on it at all for maybe 15 minutes and the temp gauge is higher then the h...

 

i have pulled the radiator off and checked though, the radiator is flowing fine. what all ways are there to check and see if the water pump is actually pumping at the correct pressure?

 

just how did u go about checking the flow? i've worked in a rad repair shop before and they have a machine for checking the flow rate of a rad. and the w/p just circulates the coolant, no pressure.

 

what ya mean the water pump just circulates the coolant no pressure?

 

ok hopefully someone can put some input here... replaced water pump, and new radiator coolant flow is good. went for a little drive today after switching out radiator, but now there is some fluid coming out of under the manifold. The fluid is somewhat milky. and input please???

 

If your relying on a gauge that is 20 years plus you may wanna consider getting a aftermarket. Believe it or not the oil system of a rotary cools 40% of the engine.

If you see any white smoke after warmed you may have a coolant seal that's out. Similiar results as a blown head gasket.

You may also have a air pocket due to design of the water neck with higher location than radiator. Check fsm for proper burp process or get a Lisle coolant filler

 

if the water pump actually pressurized the system u wouldn't be able to run the engine without the cap on the rad. it's the heating of the coolant on a closed system that creates pressure. when it overheats it builds enough pressure to overpower the spring in the cap causing it to overflow.

 

@acidia- there is no smoke at all one she is warm. turbo gets hot as hell though, like red hot. but like i said last night went to start her and she wouldnt start. found fluid coming out from under the manifold area, it was somewhat milky. one of my guys popped the radiator cap and said that he smelt fuel in the radiator... im going on what i have read but can someone verify, milky fluid usually coolant with oil mixed in(bad coolant seals), fuel in radiator i have no clue???

 

Pressure test your coolant/water system. Most auto parts stores will rent out the pressure test kit. If it checks out... Flush the **** out of your coolant/water system.

 

k, and if it doesnt?

 

You may want to check into your turbo. Since its both oil and coolant cooled and your saying your turbo is getting red hot and oil is getting milky. You may have a seal inside you compressor housing that's out. Either way that's not a normal condition

If your not smoking white you should be in the clear of bad coolant seals

+1 with also pressure testing ur coolant system and make sure it holds 14psi for at least a min

With the turbo getting hot you may want to check your intake air temps as it reaches the throttle putting hotter air into a engine not only increases temp but is dangerous to apex seals due to risk of predetination of fuel. Again after market gauges work best but fsm (factory service manual) gives you a chart to compare ohm readings of ur IAT sensor located on ur inlet cone just before ur throttle body.

Hows ur af ratio?

 

^ +1



Fix it. A.K.A. - Rebuild.

 

Then with pressure in the system you'll see where its pissing coolant unless its internal and ill notice it when you start ur engine and get smoked out. You will want to test at normal temp to help not add stress to coolant seals BECAREFULL on popping rad cap

 

k well i went ahead and pulled the upper intake off today and found coolant in it... after this i went ahead and pulled up the turbo to find coolant actually pooled up in the exhaust manifold under the turbo... well looks like im getting a rebuild kit... good way to learn right