Trying to figure out my coolant problem.
11-16-2011, 07:30 AM
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Trying to figure out my coolant problem.
I moved this from the general discussion thread. Below is the original topic and some of the responses I got.
I was just driving home from work in my 2007 RX-8, and when I got about two miles from my house what I thought was smoke started coming out from under the hood. The temp gauge read normal, and I got it home without further incident other than a few more puffs of what I thought was smoke. (I live in the thick of the D.C. metro area, so stopping on the road during rush hour traffic was something I wanted to avoid.)
Anyway I get home, pop the hood, and when I (carefully) put my hand under to find the release I feel that it isn't smoke, but steam. The coolant reservoir must have popped, and right now the reservoir is empty. The temp gauge never read anything past the middle, and the low coolant light wasn't on.
What the heck just happened? I don't know a ton about cars, which is why I come here to pick your collective brains. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
I was just driving home from work in my 2007 RX-8, and when I got about two miles from my house what I thought was smoke started coming out from under the hood. The temp gauge read normal, and I got it home without further incident other than a few more puffs of what I thought was smoke. (I live in the thick of the D.C. metro area, so stopping on the road during rush hour traffic was something I wanted to avoid.)
Anyway I get home, pop the hood, and when I (carefully) put my hand under to find the release I feel that it isn't smoke, but steam. The coolant reservoir must have popped, and right now the reservoir is empty. The temp gauge never read anything past the middle, and the low coolant light wasn't on.
What the heck just happened? I don't know a ton about cars, which is why I come here to pick your collective brains. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
The temp gauge is a dummy gauge. It doesn't even move until something ridiculous like 260 degrees if I recall correctly, and at that point you're pretty much effed already.
The air separator tank return hose connects to a fitting on top of the radiator. This fitting is known to crack and leak pressure/coolant. The air separator tank itself is known to crack and leak as well. Or your pressure cap is toast.
Also, hate to be the one to say it, but since you continued to drive it with an extremely low coolant level, you could have done some serious damage. A compression test after you fix it wouldn't be a bad idea.
The air separator tank return hose connects to a fitting on top of the radiator. This fitting is known to crack and leak pressure/coolant. The air separator tank itself is known to crack and leak as well. Or your pressure cap is toast.
Also, hate to be the one to say it, but since you continued to drive it with an extremely low coolant level, you could have done some serious damage. A compression test after you fix it wouldn't be a bad idea.
11-16-2011, 11:34 AM
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Triangular Bee Hive
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Locate where the leak is, and go from there.
And just replace whichever part that's leaking.
Check/fill your coolant everytime before you drive before this is fix.
And just replace whichever part that's leaking.
Check/fill your coolant everytime before you drive before this is fix.
11-16-2011, 11:40 AM
#4
I zoom therefore I am.
as many have said, it could be a number of different things
bad cap
cracked hose
leak from somewhere else
it's the pressure in the system that stops the water from turning to steam, lose the pressure and blam, steam. So the gauge not moving really isnt an indication of anything.
bad cap
cracked hose
leak from somewhere else
it's the pressure in the system that stops the water from turning to steam, lose the pressure and blam, steam. So the gauge not moving really isnt an indication of anything.
11-16-2011, 12:02 PM
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11-16-2011, 01:10 PM
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And thanks for not taking that post as a personal attack (as others seem to) 
It was a tool, as well as an area for you to start looking for issues you're having. It can be hard to diagnose a problem over the internet. Searching for your own answers will better answer your questions
It was a tool, as well as an area for you to start looking for issues you're having. It can be hard to diagnose a problem over the internet. Searching for your own answers will better answer your questions
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