Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
05-30-2010, 09:23 AM
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Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
So today after some lenghty driving to the mall, a camaro challenged my 1993 dol sol si, so i took the challenge 
. wasn't driving it too hard, up to about 5-6k (prob lower), and after that we parted ways and i went home.
pulling up to my street, i noticed some steam so i immediately turned the engine off (not a busy area). i didn't notice my gauge going up, though i should have. the was antifreeze all over my hood and puddled on my intake manifold. also drops basically everywhere. The steam started bellowing from around the distributor just after i turned the engine off. this is interesting because i in the last week replaced the:
-Radiator
-coolant resivor
-dizzy
-rotor
-ignition control module
ran fine for days, and i drove it the same as today.
i checked all radiator connections, i don't think the leak is there.
when can i tell if it is safe to drive?
ps: i waited for it to cool down, then drove it in the driveway, started smoking again, must be a leak? but it also overheated again....
. wasn't driving it too hard, up to about 5-6k (prob lower), and after that we parted ways and i went home.pulling up to my street, i noticed some steam so i immediately turned the engine off (not a busy area). i didn't notice my gauge going up, though i should have. the was antifreeze all over my hood and puddled on my intake manifold. also drops basically everywhere. The steam started bellowing from around the distributor just after i turned the engine off. this is interesting because i in the last week replaced the:
-Radiator
-coolant resivor
-dizzy
-rotor
-ignition control module
ran fine for days, and i drove it the same as today.
i checked all radiator connections, i don't think the leak is there.
when can i tell if it is safe to drive?
ps: i waited for it to cool down, then drove it in the driveway, started smoking again, must be a leak? but it also overheated again....
Last edited by Michael.K.Conte; 05-30-2010 at 10:45 AM.
05-30-2010, 09:41 AM
#2
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
your headgasket could be leaking, or at your throttle body
if the leak is visible , clean the engine up, let it run and watch for where coolant, or steam comes from
if the leak is visible , clean the engine up, let it run and watch for where coolant, or steam comes from
05-30-2010, 10:33 AM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
like linked said, give the engine a quick clean up. then let it run and look and see where its leaking.
05-30-2010, 10:38 AM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
ok, i did so, and there is no exact spot where the steam is coming from. it is bellowing out from in between the metal piece the dizzy is on, and the head. so i guess that would be a crankshaft housing? i dont know.
05-30-2010, 10:56 AM
#5
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
i would suspect a headgasket but idk if its common for a headgasket to leak to the outside of the engine, and i cannot think of any other coolant passages near the dizzy
05-30-2010, 10:59 AM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
ok, my dad thought of the thermostat... just an idea.
will it be obvious if i look at my gaskets?
will it be obvious if i look at my gaskets?
05-30-2010, 11:05 AM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
theres some about 1 inch hoses on the back of the block around the dizzy that you could check out too. t.stat is a good place to look also like your dad said.
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05-30-2010, 11:06 AM
#8
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
*facepalm* i completely forgot about the tstat (which seems more practical than the headgasket)
pull the tstat housing and inspect the gasket and replace
test the tstat in boiling water on the stove since you have it out already
GL
pull the tstat housing and inspect the gasket and replace
test the tstat in boiling water on the stove since you have it out already
GL
05-30-2010, 12:02 PM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
soooo no thermostat lol....
looked around back of dizzy, what hoses?
the radiator return hose?
looked around back of dizzy, what hoses?
the radiator return hose?
Last edited by Michael.K.Conte; 05-30-2010 at 07:12 PM.
05-30-2010, 12:09 PM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
on the back side of the block, under the intake and dizzy. theres hoses that go into the firewall.
05-30-2010, 02:46 PM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
lol.... my haynes manual said follow the top hose to the block, i promise!
Last edited by Michael.K.Conte; 05-30-2010 at 03:13 PM.
05-30-2010, 07:18 PM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
so, after i got everthing back together, cleaned up, and added more coolant...
i drove around to do some things i had to do, only to find that when i got back there was some steam coming from my radiator cap... i decided that it was probably air stuck inside the cooling system, so i opened bleed valve, raised the front of the car, took off the radiator cap, then let it idle up to operating temp...
quite a bit of air came out!
i believe it is still happening, will find out for sure tomorrow morning...
is it safe to drive like this for short distances?
i drove around to do some things i had to do, only to find that when i got back there was some steam coming from my radiator cap... i decided that it was probably air stuck inside the cooling system, so i opened bleed valve, raised the front of the car, took off the radiator cap, then let it idle up to operating temp...
quite a bit of air came out!
i believe it is still happening, will find out for sure tomorrow morning...
is it safe to drive like this for short distances?
05-30-2010, 07:56 PM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
Yeah do a radiator flush or bleed and make sure the cap closes properly.
I should be fine to drive as long as the temp gauge is at normal.
I should be fine to drive as long as the temp gauge is at normal.
05-31-2010, 09:28 PM
#15
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
Try to get the cooling system pressure tested...Just to pin point if you have any coolant leaks. I'd start off there...
06-01-2010, 02:22 AM
#16
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
getting the cooling system pressure tested would be the ultimate way to fix this problem.
I would say first, thermostat. take it out, replace it and the gasket, or check it in boiling water and replace the gasket anyways.
hoses going into the firewall go to the heater core. heater core has one in and one out, two hoses. these probably wouldn't be worn out, unless you run your heater 100% of the time you drive.
i would feel all the cooling hoses to see if they are spongey or make cracking noises. cracking = cords inside the hose breaking, weakening the hose and past their lifespan. spongy hoses mean the cords may have already broken and it's a matter of time til the hose pops. replace any and all hoses that don't look 100% brand new and perfect.
to see if thermostat is working, you can bring car up to operating temperature, and feel both radiator hoses. if only one is hot, and the other is cold, coolant is not circulating. if they are both warm, this is good.
if coolant doesn't circulate properly, it boils and turns to steam. the steam finds a way out of the motor, into the air, and suddenly your water cooled engine has no water cooling. this can cause it to get WAAAY to hot, warping your head, cracking your block, and all sorts of other things that will KILL your motor.
as a side note, when the car overheats and the coolant boils away as steam, the temp gauge may not even register anything above normal. the temp gauge might look perfect, as your motor overheats and kills itself. i killed a motor before i figured that out. pay attention if you're losing power or hearing odd noises.
if your car is overheating, shut it off and wait for it to cool completely. add water to it PROPERLY by opening the bleeder with a (i think) 12mm wrench. the bleeder is on the thermostat housing.
open the bleeder, take off radiator cap, fill til bleeder pisses out water in a steady stream. also smart to start the car, run it for a few with the heater on. this will circulate coolant through the heater core where air bubbles can be hiding. if you drain the coolant, always start the car and let it idle with the heater on then turn it off and top up the coolant again. use the bleeder, that's why it's there.
and don't take your radiator cap off when it's warm like a dumba$$, it will spray hot burning coolant everywhere. all over you, and probably in your eyes. I did that once and my vision was blurry for about 20 minutes while i stood in the shower feeling dizzy and wondering how i got to my age by doing stupid things like that.
there is more to go through, but you've got to try all that stuff ^^^ before you get more of my time
best of luck figuring things out.
btw if your car is overheating, turning the heater on full blast will help it cool down faster.
I would say first, thermostat. take it out, replace it and the gasket, or check it in boiling water and replace the gasket anyways.
hoses going into the firewall go to the heater core. heater core has one in and one out, two hoses. these probably wouldn't be worn out, unless you run your heater 100% of the time you drive.
i would feel all the cooling hoses to see if they are spongey or make cracking noises. cracking = cords inside the hose breaking, weakening the hose and past their lifespan. spongy hoses mean the cords may have already broken and it's a matter of time til the hose pops. replace any and all hoses that don't look 100% brand new and perfect.
to see if thermostat is working, you can bring car up to operating temperature, and feel both radiator hoses. if only one is hot, and the other is cold, coolant is not circulating. if they are both warm, this is good.
if coolant doesn't circulate properly, it boils and turns to steam. the steam finds a way out of the motor, into the air, and suddenly your water cooled engine has no water cooling. this can cause it to get WAAAY to hot, warping your head, cracking your block, and all sorts of other things that will KILL your motor.
as a side note, when the car overheats and the coolant boils away as steam, the temp gauge may not even register anything above normal. the temp gauge might look perfect, as your motor overheats and kills itself. i killed a motor before i figured that out. pay attention if you're losing power or hearing odd noises.
if your car is overheating, shut it off and wait for it to cool completely. add water to it PROPERLY by opening the bleeder with a (i think) 12mm wrench. the bleeder is on the thermostat housing.
open the bleeder, take off radiator cap, fill til bleeder pisses out water in a steady stream. also smart to start the car, run it for a few with the heater on. this will circulate coolant through the heater core where air bubbles can be hiding. if you drain the coolant, always start the car and let it idle with the heater on then turn it off and top up the coolant again. use the bleeder, that's why it's there.
and don't take your radiator cap off when it's warm like a dumba$$, it will spray hot burning coolant everywhere. all over you, and probably in your eyes. I did that once and my vision was blurry for about 20 minutes while i stood in the shower feeling dizzy and wondering how i got to my age by doing stupid things like that.
there is more to go through, but you've got to try all that stuff ^^^ before you get more of my time
best of luck figuring things out.
btw if your car is overheating, turning the heater on full blast will help it cool down faster.
06-01-2010, 08:23 AM
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Re: Engine overheated, obvious antifreeze leak, dont know what to do
and don't take your radiator cap off when it's warm like a dumba$$, it will spray hot burning coolant everywhere. all over you, and probably in your eyes. I did that once and my vision was blurry for about 20 minutes while i stood in the shower feeling dizzy and wondering how i got to my age by doing stupid things like that.
yeah i put a hefty towel every time the i take it off and it might still be hot...
so i am sure the termo is good, did hose check.
i also generally checked the hoses and replaced a few.
today my mechanic is looking over my car just to give me his .02, and i asked him to check out the pressure and whatnot.
after i let the system bleed, did not notice any steam.
Thanks alot for the pointer with inacurrate temp readings, i would have never known! you probably saved my *** sooner or later.
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