Will running lean make you lose coolant?
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Will running lean make you lose coolant? I have gone through everything on my car to find out where I am leaking coolant at. I have found nothing. So last resort was to pull the plugs today and check for blown head gasket. They were all white from running really lean. Could this cause me to lose coolant. My engine has 1000 miles with no T Stat and fans are wired to radio and still runs at a consistant 210. The radiator has been sending it coolant to the resorvoir and causing it to overflow. But only when it runs for a little while after operating temp. I blocked the resorvoir off and drove it 150 miles and it lost a quart of coolant.
Get a new cap as stated,check for small leaks around the water pump...If that does not cure your problem,its either the head gasket or a small crack in the head...Mine started blowing coolant out the reserve,on the dyno and it was the head gasket....Changed the gaskets and all is well..
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11 Bravo said that his was using coolant when it was untuned and running lean like mine. My car is untuned with mods in sig. I was waiting to break the motor in before a dyno. In case you were wondering why its not tuned yet.
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Where do you have your coolant crossover tube routed? What method did you use to burp the air out? I would guess radiator cap too. Find out why your radiator cap is letting all your coolant into the overflow and you'll find your problem. Blocking off the overflow tank was a bad move in my opinion. The only way I can see running lean being related is if detonation causes your engine to overheat which causes your radiator cap to open to the overflow.
Originally Posted by 1999ssls1
11 Bravo said that his was using coolant when it was untuned and running lean like mine. My car is untuned with mods in sig. I was waiting to break the motor in before a dyno. In case you were wondering why its not tuned yet.
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How could I tell if the head gaskets are blown if no coolant is in the oil or exhaust? The engine has only 1200 miles and hasnt been abused yet, so I dont know why they would be blown. But the coolant going somewhere.
you're running a 234/243 cam untuned??? how the hell are you getting that bitch to start??
I found i losing coolant from the back steam vents.. the ones on the heads.. i had a small leak, which ran down the back of the motor and on to the bellhousing where it burnt off.. so there was no evidence of a leak on the floor...
Your 99+ gauge will always sit at 210 reguardless of where it is... unless you are over heating.. it will peg over...
what are you using for coolant? Just water? Dexcool? Green Stuff? Running lean is not going to make you loose coolant... its a leak or a blown gasket and you're burning it off.. only way to tell is to pull the heads and have a look... or on start up.. are you noticing a very small white puff of smoke at start up? have some one stand behind the car on start up in the morning..
I found i losing coolant from the back steam vents.. the ones on the heads.. i had a small leak, which ran down the back of the motor and on to the bellhousing where it burnt off.. so there was no evidence of a leak on the floor...
Your 99+ gauge will always sit at 210 reguardless of where it is... unless you are over heating.. it will peg over...
what are you using for coolant? Just water? Dexcool? Green Stuff? Running lean is not going to make you loose coolant... its a leak or a blown gasket and you're burning it off.. only way to tell is to pull the heads and have a look... or on start up.. are you noticing a very small white puff of smoke at start up? have some one stand behind the car on start up in the morning..