Help! Coolant leak?
#1
Help! Coolant leak?
Hey guys, help me diagnose this.
I was driving to work this morning when I started to hear a belt chirping. a few seconds later I realized that probably had something to do with the steam coming out from under the hood. So I pulled over and popped the hood. Mind you, my car is stock. I changed the oil last week and checked the coolant reservoir and it was within proper levels. But now there's coolant all over the forward engine compartment. No hoses seem out of place and this has never happened before.
So I limped it another 2 minutes to work. I'm running the heater. In that time temp gauge rises from 45 to %60 of normal range and the fan has kicked on. I cant figure out why this is suddenly going on. It usually gets treated pretty well.
Planning to top off the coolant and bleed the system after work. Side note, I've noticed the airbag dash light staying on a little longer than normal at startup. And the heater wouldn't immediately blow hot air when the car is warm and moving.
I was driving to work this morning when I started to hear a belt chirping. a few seconds later I realized that probably had something to do with the steam coming out from under the hood. So I pulled over and popped the hood. Mind you, my car is stock. I changed the oil last week and checked the coolant reservoir and it was within proper levels. But now there's coolant all over the forward engine compartment. No hoses seem out of place and this has never happened before.
So I limped it another 2 minutes to work. I'm running the heater. In that time temp gauge rises from 45 to %60 of normal range and the fan has kicked on. I cant figure out why this is suddenly going on. It usually gets treated pretty well.
Planning to top off the coolant and bleed the system after work. Side note, I've noticed the airbag dash light staying on a little longer than normal at startup. And the heater wouldn't immediately blow hot air when the car is warm and moving.
Last edited by Cracka350; 03-26-2018 at 09:07 AM.
#3
General & Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
A new oem radiator cap might help. Ck reservoir AND radiator, put cap on and run till warm, observe where leak is. Let cool before repair.
I haven't noticed a lot of folks talking about changing pumps but possible. Look for the simplest solution first - hoses, clamps, air in system, cap. Gl
I haven't noticed a lot of folks talking about changing pumps but possible. Look for the simplest solution first - hoses, clamps, air in system, cap. Gl
#6
Update: The splash pattern suggests that the leak is somewhere atop the radiator but not from the cap area. Cant investigate further without taking it apart. But I poured a gallon of 50/50 in to get it home it only leaked out when the engine got up to %60 heat. But I'm pretty sure that gallon came back out.
Anyway it's parked for now.
Anyway it's parked for now.
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#11
Conclusion
So I thought I'd wrap this up for anyone else with these symptoms.
Symptoms: No heat from the vents. Steam from the hood. Coolant all over the front of the engine bay.
Problem: Blown Radiator
Resolution: Ebay Aluminum radiator. $114
It's easiest to pull the cooling fan and radiator out through the bottom but I had to get the front end a couple of feet in the air.
This thing is massive at 3 times the thickness of the OEM radiator. But everything works great now. The reason that I couldn't see the huge hairline crack atop the radiator is that it's hidden behind the cooling fan cowl. I also had to straiten out the lower tabs on the new one. I'm sure Mishimoto sells a nice unit but at less than a third of the price for some major cooling capacity I'm really happy.
Symptoms: No heat from the vents. Steam from the hood. Coolant all over the front of the engine bay.
Problem: Blown Radiator
Resolution: Ebay Aluminum radiator. $114
It's easiest to pull the cooling fan and radiator out through the bottom but I had to get the front end a couple of feet in the air.
This thing is massive at 3 times the thickness of the OEM radiator. But everything works great now. The reason that I couldn't see the huge hairline crack atop the radiator is that it's hidden behind the cooling fan cowl. I also had to straiten out the lower tabs on the new one. I'm sure Mishimoto sells a nice unit but at less than a third of the price for some major cooling capacity I'm really happy.
Last edited by Cracka350; 04-02-2018 at 08:11 AM.
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