Motts

I had a question about coolant. I did a search and some topics discuss how their Rs burn coolant. Well I was wondering why my overflow reservoir seems to drain? I will fill it to the MIN line and you can watch it drain all the way empty over time. Does the overflow somehow go back into the radiator? I only see one line that I know goes from the radiator cap into the overflow. I am a little confused because I didnt think filling the overflow actually filled the coolant.

vtec.dc2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Motts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I will fill it to the MIN line and you can watch it drain all the way empty over time. </TD></TR></TABLE>

you say overtime? how much time and how many miles are we talking about?

you shouldn't be loosing coolant. get coolant pressure test done.. - basically its a pump with pressure gauge that hooks through radiator.. then you raise pressure and should hear leaks or pressure drop.. just make sure not to pass service limit (more details in helms service manual)

btw.. have you noticed any stains around/under engine bay/radiator/hoses?

jdmspoonitr

iTrader: (1)

I have never lost any coolant. It gets recycled through the car so you shouldn't be losing any like you would oil.

B2FiNiTY

iTrader: (2)

Maybe your water pump is leaking.

Smitdog

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B2FiNiTY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe your water pump is leaking. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hole in Radiator, Have seen small rocks chip the smallest parts and cause a leak.

ZygSpeed

Possibly a warped head that's "burning" coolant, or you've got a hole in the coolant reservoir?

Smitdog

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Possibly a warped head that's "burning" coolant, or you've got a hole in the coolant reservoir?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont make him worry that much yet Ed... LOL...

ZygSpeed

Why not?
I do!

And my problem is not the coolant reservoir!

Motts

Well I guess I can start watching it more carefully now. I was just confused on why I fill the overflow reservoir to the MIN line and then its gone? Ill look under the car and see if I can find traces of leaks, but from first glances today I didnt find any. If I had to guess, Id say it takes about 1000 miles before the overflow is empty (educated guess).

I had a shop do a compression test and leak down check on the motor before I bought it. They told me that I was fine, plus there is no coolant in the oil. I guess it wouldnt hurt to do one myself. Headgasket seems fine though. Just to let you all know.

Also, the radiator is full of coolant. I havnt had to fill that in the last 3000 miles of owning the motor. Only the overflow. Over flow doesnt go back into the coolant system correct?


Off topic, where can I get a helms manual for the ITR?

ZygSpeed

For all practical intents and purposes, coolant is supposed to be sucked back in to the radiator when it coolc back down, since the reservoir is supposed to be an "overflow" area for the radiator.

WRT the manual --&gt; http://www.helminc.com/

vtec.dc2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Motts &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I guess I can start watching it more carefully now. I was just confused on why I fill the overflow reservoir to the MIN line and then its gone? Ill look under the car and see if I can find traces of leaks, but from first glances today I didnt find any. If I had to guess, Id say it takes about 1000 miles before the overflow is empty (educated guess).

I had a shop do a compression test and leak down check on the motor before I bought it. They told me that I was fine, plus there is no coolant in the oil. I guess it wouldnt hurt to do one myself. Headgasket seems fine though. Just to let you all know.

Also, the radiator is full of coolant. I havnt had to fill that in the last 3000 miles of owning the motor. Only the overflow. Over flow doesnt go back into the coolant system correct?


Off topic, where can I get a helms manual for the ITR? </TD></TR></TABLE>

compression or leakdown test isn't to check for leaks within cooling system, get cooling system pressure test done.. either yourself or at the dealer - just don't place more pressure than whats stated in service manual, you can purchase one from helminc.com

btw.. overflow should be in the middle between min/max. its possible when you purchased the car there wasn't enough coolant in there. how much or how many times did you add coolant so far?

Motts

Ive filled the overflow to the min line and watched it drain twice now. Ive had it for only about 3-4K miles now so thats why I was guessing that it usually takes about 1K or a little more to drain. I dont see any hole in the overflow because I checked today for any coolant around it. Ill go over the system here in a couple days when I have a day off.

MechEng

Maybe, your coolant system is in need of fluid; hence is sucks up whats in the reservoir. Have a look inside your rad to see if its full.

Once it is full, it should no longer suck up the reservoir fluid.

Motts

Update, the reason why I wasnt finding any leaks outside the car is because the heater core is leaking inside the car :doh:. Looks like I have yet another project on my hands. =P

ZygSpeed

Sorry to hear that, obviously not a fun job!

1999CLman

Yea...I had the same problem with prestone 50/50 Mixed in my 1992 honda accord. I guess my car was old and it overheats ALOT so it evaporates all the water in the 50/50 mix... My solution was to add more coolant and no more water until it stop losing collant. (Guess you should use 75% coolant /25% water for hotter engine) I now drive a 99 acura cl and using honda premix for the best results