crappity crap crap

i have a major issue. since i got my motor up and running in the new shell, it has not done more than idle. im running water with half a bottle of water wetter, and a small amount of regular coolant since i didnt fully drain the block.

the other day i let it idle for a good 20 minutes and it didnt seem like the thermostat opened

today, i was letting it idle again since i put on my exhaust. i noticed two exhaust clamps that are towards the rear end had small drips of something on them, smelled like coolant. my temp gauge never went over half way.

when i shut the car off i heard dripping, almost a slight hiss of pressure releasing, and found coolant dripping down the back of the block. pinpointed it as coming out the right rear of the head, but i cant tell if its from under the head or the intake manifold gasket (i use a hondata) and the bolts are all tight. the valve cover and runners of my itb's were VERY hot.

im very afraid that i over heated without knowing and lifted/warped the head...

any ideas?

 

Pressure test the system and also check to see if the coolant/oil is contaminated.

There is a tester that checks your coolant for contamination, just don't remember what it's called.

 

No, 20 mins of idle will not warp a head.
Sounds like a bad hose.

 

im guessing by bad hose you just mean split?

it is wet underneath the hose that goes into the intake manifold flange, but of course its hard to tell if thats the source or not...ill play with it once it cools off.

im also thinking i might have air in the system, and i do not have a bleed valve. when i idled it with the cap off i forgot to have the heater on...maybe i should do that again?

it really seems coolant is coming out from under the head...which scares me...looks like ill be buying a water temp gauge.

 

Hose behind the head somewhere leaking or split..

 

well that was my suspect. i just went out and played with it, and it seemed like the hose was just to compressed and the clamp wasnt holding tight, so i pulled it off and cuzt an inch off so it has fresh hose. seems tighter, but im probably going to switch it over to a worm clamp.

dumb question...is this the coolant bleeder?

 

that front nipple is yes..
wait for the car to warm up slightly then open it up until coolent bleeds out..then close.
i'm assuming the leak is probably coming from the hose that goes from the manifold to the t housing.

 

yeah thats the hose i fixed, i have my fingers crossed thats it.

you have a water temp gauge dont you? how do you have it set up?

 

No, i dont.
I run oil pressure - Oil temp - And wideband.. no need to really run anything else personally unless your boosted.

If you do run a water temp gauge, your going to need a splitter to put into the upper radiator hose.

 

Instead of splitting the upper radiator hose can you just drill and tap a hole next to the bleeder screw?