My 95 GSR with 190k started to leak coolant this summer; figured oh well, maybe a hose, didn't worry. My friend who's a mechanic checked all the usual suspects, put dye in, still can't find a source. He thinks maybe the head gasket needs replacement. Not getting typical white exhaust. However, oddly it leaks most when I run a/c. Not running a/c it leaks much less.

Thoughts? I was thinking if it's the head, maybe time to do a surface, maybe some valves and get it ready for the next 100k! She's burning some oil also, so maybe the rebuild would get that better too.

Thanks for any thoughts/guidance.

 

how old is the radiator?

 

Newish, less than 2 years old from recollection. I know they frequently crack where the plastic/metal meet up.

 

How do you know it's leaking coolant if you can't visually see it or notice that it's burning/ mixing with your oil if its a bad headgasket.

 

do you see it on the ground?

 

Pressure test the cooling system. I'm assuming you used an aftermarket radiator? Sometimes the hoses don't clamp that well to aftermarket rads so you need to use screw clamps and really tighten them down.

Pressure testing the cooling system will tell you where the fluid is leaking from. This is done when the engine and coolant is cool or cold. When the engine is hot and the cooling system is pressurized, any leaking coolant will almost instantly vaporize when it hits atmospheric pressure, so it will be extremely difficult to trace the leak that way.

 

I had something similar happen for about a year, one year ago. My leak was maddeningly intermittent; I was losing anywhere from nothing to a pint a day, for many months. No drips, no spots on the driveway. Very frustrating. It turned out that leak was coming from the bottom tank of the rad, right where the lower hose outlet is. That area is just about impossible to see on account of the crossmember and fan shroud being in the way.

Only after I had the rad out did I see the streaks on the tank, from the leaking fluid.

And then -- get this -- the new (aftermarket) rad was DEFECTIVE. The rad shop replaced it without question, but I still had to pull the rad twice, on the coldest days of the year, with the temperature around zero F. Wonderful!

 

Yes, will on occasion have a small to large puddle. Yet maddeningly sometimes bone dry!

 

It is aftermarket, so that could be a good catch. I don't know that he's got the stuff for a pressure test, will point that out. Would explain the times when there's no puddle; the one thing that definitely seems to create the biggest puddle is running the a/c.

 

As it seems intermittent, not sure about headgasket, agree. Plus I had thought headgasket you would see the white exhaust.

Anybody use something like Barr's for leaks? I just wanna keep her good till we can get a good amount of time for a proper teardown. Still in love with my 17 year-old!

 

Is it leaking out of the waterpump gasket?

 

That I will have to check. Thanks all for your insights! I still have a hard time believing it's a headgasket, but I'm no mechanic.

For those who've replaced their radiator, recommendations? I've thought of the aluminum like Mishimoto/Fluidyne, but between quality/fit/leaking/fans I'm leery; and I'm not a racer, this is my everyday ride, love her dearly.

 

Mizu makes a direct fit for your car and has the mounts for the stock rad and condensor fans...http://www.sparkplugs.com/category.aspx?zcid=949.

Here is a link of my 94 RS that I got the rad and duel fans for.... https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...zu+rad+install 94

 

I know you're rep, so if you're satisfied, I can be. Did they take the issues you had and make the product a little better, i.e. better shipping? And has it held up, even to 'crossing?

And I love the pebbled front end finish, I couldn't find that stuff here in US? At least for autos...

You guys make asking questions worthwhile! Love the answers, food for thought.

 

Yes, the stuff they reshipped to me was in much better packaging, [more crush proof].

Not sure about the minor misalignment of the OEM fan mounting "studs" as I did not have them replace the rad, but it was minor anyway, and with the duel fan and shroud setup I did not need them any way.

Yes, the rad works great, very efficient, the fans hardly ever turn on and when they do it is for a very short time, I will probably remove the rad fan in front of the exhaust manifold, to make room for the header, I ran it with just one fan for about 2 mo. while I modified the other, [mounting] for more space and had no issues whatsoever.

FYI, "pebbled front end finish" is just ARMARGUARD truck bed spray, [AMERAGUARD down in the states]... http://www.armaguard.com/ also sold as RinoLinings... http://www.rhinolinings.com/ and a number of others... http://www.google.ca/search?q=ArmarG...w=1024&bih=536 94

 

Nice, a vendor who takes care of the customer. As it turns out it was the actual radiator, it finally started to fail in such a way my friend could see where it was coming from. So I'm considering the Mizu. So you went with their aftermarket fans/shroud vs moving over the oems?

Thanks!

 

Sparkplugs.com was looking for someone to do a "field trial" on the Mizu product and do a writeup and I was looking for a rad, worked out great for me, and I like the product, I got the rad, rad fans W/shroud and the silicon rad hoses and all I had to do was a writeup with pics.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...zu+rad+install 94

 

So, all ordered up and will let you guys know how it all fits up. Just getting the Mizu radiator, as my hoses/waterpump are still good.

Thanks to all!