Dang Coolant leak
12-16-09, 09:23 AM
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Dang Coolant leak
Ok, to start I HAVE searched as much as I can before I started this thread. The search is how I got this far but have NOT been able to find my last problem. That being said here we go...
I have not had my 400 long and have had to replace alot of things thus far. The latest is the coolant system. To date I have replaced the water pump and all that goes with it, the thermostat, the hoses (Upper, lower, from the overflow to radiator and from the overflow to the block), the temp sensor at the bottom of the radiator, and last the radiator it self.
My problem now is that I can get all the air out of the system and know that it is totally ful but the second I start the car I have coolant that will drip out of the overflow tube. The longer that the car runs, the faster the coolant comes out and eventually the light comes on and once around 1 to 1.5 quarts comes out then it will stop. My heat as a result does not work.
Does anyone have any thought or suggestions before I put her into the shop?
Oh and by the way....I have been through four NEW radiator caps in the event they were bad. I figured the odds of all four new ones being bad were slim.
Thank you everyone in advance!
I have not had my 400 long and have had to replace alot of things thus far. The latest is the coolant system. To date I have replaced the water pump and all that goes with it, the thermostat, the hoses (Upper, lower, from the overflow to radiator and from the overflow to the block), the temp sensor at the bottom of the radiator, and last the radiator it self.
My problem now is that I can get all the air out of the system and know that it is totally ful but the second I start the car I have coolant that will drip out of the overflow tube. The longer that the car runs, the faster the coolant comes out and eventually the light comes on and once around 1 to 1.5 quarts comes out then it will stop. My heat as a result does not work.
Does anyone have any thought or suggestions before I put her into the shop?
Oh and by the way....I have been through four NEW radiator caps in the event they were bad. I figured the odds of all four new ones being bad were slim.
Thank you everyone in advance!
Last edited by GhostSC400; 12-16-09 at 03:09 PM.
12-16-09, 10:34 AM
#2
heheheee... After your 3rd paragraph there I was going to say replace the radiator cap. hhhmmmm Damn I don't have any idea at this point. Maybe the pump is defective? You are not overheating are you? There is a post here somewhere about a temporary fix to get the heater working.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...t-working.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...t-working.html
12-16-09, 11:20 AM
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I have already confirmed that my actuator works and when the heat is turned on the arm will go all the way up. I have thought about switching it just in case but just have yet to do so. I will go and do it on my break here at work. I drive over an hour to and from work and it gets really cold in this car and I am afraid of the day that we have freezing rain or something!
12-16-09, 03:38 PM
#7
Only time will tell then eventually the engine will seize. Check the oil dip stick if you have water mixture. Do you get white smoke coming out of the muffler? Those are some signs if you have a head gasket problem. Or, you can do a leak down test.
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12-16-09, 05:24 PM
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No smoke at all and I have been keeping a real close eye on the oil. I have zero trace of water in the oil. Every instance I have heard of a blown head gasket, I have always heard of the car running rough and mine is just as smooth as butter.
12-16-09, 06:22 PM
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Ok, I have been outside playing and I just found that at full temp, the top radiator hose is extremly hot and the lower is considerably cooler (I could keep my hand on it all day). Which way is the flow? Did I install a bad Tstat or waterpump?
12-17-09, 05:28 AM
#10
The flow is from the bottom hose thru the block & heads then back to top of radiator, lower hose will be cooler because heat is passed as water goes back thru radiator top to bottom.
Look at the seat in the radiator fill hole where the rad. cap rubber gasket contacts & seals (about 1" down), make sure that seat area has nothing stuck on it & is not damaged preventing a good seal.
Make sure the seal on the cap is actually contacting that seat WITH spring pressure as you begin to tighten it closed.
Make sure the thermostat is installed because the coolant will circulate too fast to pass-off the heat(some cases).
I think you'll find the problem in the cap area, possibly wrong cap & too short to reach the seat ot make a real good seal.
Look at the seat in the radiator fill hole where the rad. cap rubber gasket contacts & seals (about 1" down), make sure that seat area has nothing stuck on it & is not damaged preventing a good seal.
Make sure the seal on the cap is actually contacting that seat WITH spring pressure as you begin to tighten it closed.
Make sure the thermostat is installed because the coolant will circulate too fast to pass-off the heat(some cases).
I think you'll find the problem in the cap area, possibly wrong cap & too short to reach the seat ot make a real good seal.
12-17-09, 07:17 AM
#12
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Did this problem also occur before you replaced everything or only after?
I agree that it sounds like a thermostat problem (bad, cocked, upside down, etc.)
I would check/replace that next step.
Alan
I agree that it sounds like a thermostat problem (bad, cocked, upside down, etc.)
I would check/replace that next step.
Alan
12-17-09, 07:45 AM
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It happened after. Before I replaced everything, my leaks were coming out of the radiator it self. Is there an idicator on the Tstat of which side is up?
