wierd cooling problem
wierd cooling problem started yesterday. cold start i let it sit to warm up as usual. then i saw a few drips coming from near the oil cooler lines to the radiator where they connect to the rad. i thought it was leftover rain caught in the front frame. well i guess not cause today whenever i sit and idle itll heat up to 3/4 from 180 within 1-2 minutes. driving on the road and freeway itll stay normal 180-200*. coolant level is fine in the radiator and overflow. no oil mixed in anything. but i smell coolant as its sitting right now in the engine bay. 
TECH Apprentice
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well im assuming you have a low temp thermostat and lower temp or manual fans with all your other mods.if not it wouldnt hurt. my car did what you are describing bc of the poor factory tune. to the point it boiled out of the overflow. that would probably cause you to smell coolant. if you ARE running lower fans and thermostat than it sounds like you could have an air pocket in the system causing a hot spot. aren't the oil cooler lines on the passenger side? if i remember correctly the coolant temp sensor is right above it-could be leaking from there. the factory o-ring is crappy.
the oil cooler lines are on the same side as the filter. drivers side.
its not coming from the overflow. its coming from the drivers side of the radiator behind the fan plastic. the guard or whatever it is that bolts to the radiator. i checked right now and you can see its dry trail. i looked at the cap side of the rad. and its crusty. 8 month old cap is bad i bet. its a very small leak. maybe 3 drips per minute. only does it on cold starts and when its cold.
im running stock tune and stock fans/stat.
its not coming from the overflow. its coming from the drivers side of the radiator behind the fan plastic. the guard or whatever it is that bolts to the radiator. i checked right now and you can see its dry trail. i looked at the cap side of the rad. and its crusty. 8 month old cap is bad i bet. its a very small leak. maybe 3 drips per minute. only does it on cold starts and when its cold.
im running stock tune and stock fans/stat.
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the low temp stat would drop your temps quite a bit but you either have to get a tune or a hypertech to adjust fan settings unless you just want to run a manual fan switch.i prefer to have it set lower in the tune so i dont have to mess with a switch.your stock fans are not coming on until 225*! now if you think you are seeing some fluid from where you are describing, that is part of the radiator. mine had a hairline crack that was only leaking when it was hot. my temps starting going up a bit more and the rad had to be replaced.
the low temp stat would drop your temps quite a bit but you either have to get a tune or a hypertech to adjust fan settings unless you just want to run a manual fan switch.i prefer to have it set lower in the tune so i dont have to mess with a switch.your stock fans are not coming on until 225*! now if you think you are seeing some fluid from where you are describing, that is part of the radiator. mine had a hairline crack that was only leaking when it was hot. my temps starting going up a bit more and the rad had to be replaced.
im gonna dynotune the car sooner or later so im gonna have the fan temp lowered and everything.
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maybe the leak is from the cap then. if you want to take a closer look theres not much to getting the fans out of the way. disconnect negative battery terminal,disconnect two fan plugs that run into the fans right near the center of each fan,then remove the radiator mount,then it shouldnt be too hard to unhook the fans from the rad and take a better look. if you try it and decide they need to be moved all the way the fans come out very easy dropped out the bottom. on the thermostat thing, i run a 160* and my temp sits around 180* at its hottest. from what you said id try a different rad cap,then try bleeding it to rule out an air pocket first.
im having similar problems...i just replaced my waterpump about a week ago...filled it all the way up with coolant...and then a few days later i have to filil it back up a little to the top of the radiator...i havn't noticed any leaks or smells...any ideas?
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
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TECH Apprentice
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im having similar problems...i just replaced my waterpump about a week ago...filled it all the way up with coolant...and then a few days later i have to filil it back up a little to the top of the radiator...i havn't noticed any leaks or smells...any ideas?
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
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im having similar problems...i just replaced my waterpump about a week ago...filled it all the way up with coolant...and then a few days later i have to filil it back up a little to the top of the radiator...i havn't noticed any leaks or smells...any ideas?
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
Dont mean to thread hijack BTW
for you rev.....sounds like possible waterpump to me...does it like while its running or after you kill the car?
**nevermind rev,didn't realize the leak was from the front...have you tried maybe diff coolant cap? sometimes the simple stuff ya know..
no no the problem is its a very small leak on cold start. barely a leak at all. but its enough to make it heat up sitting in traffic. driving will make it cool back to 180-200.
Also you said the coolant looks like its coming from the cap,change that first,that could cause air to get into the system and make you overheat. If that isn't the problem, maybe be a bigger issue.
That's really wierd that the car would overheat from just a leak,something in the cooling system is not functioning, i really wanna say waterpump or thermostat IF the cap doesn't do anything for ya.
That's really wierd that the car would overheat from just a leak,something in the cooling system is not functioning, i really wanna say waterpump or thermostat IF the cap doesn't do anything for ya.
Also you said the coolant looks like its coming from the cap,change that first,that could cause air to get into the system and make you overheat. If that isn't the problem, maybe be a bigger issue.
That's really wierd that the car would overheat from just a leak,something in the cooling system is not functioning, i really wanna say waterpump or thermostat IF the cap doesn't do anything for ya.
That's really wierd that the car would overheat from just a leak,something in the cooling system is not functioning, i really wanna say waterpump or thermostat IF the cap doesn't do anything for ya.
as you are TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2007
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isnt 3/4 of the way on the temp gauge about 220 ?its going to heat up to that when you are just sitting there with the stock stat and tune.then when you take off and some cool air hits it again it will drop back down until you are sitting still again just like you are describing.
isnt 3/4 of the way on the temp gauge about 220 ?its going to heat up to that when you are just sitting there with the stock stat and tune.then when you take off and some cool air hits it again it will drop back down until you are sitting still again just like you are describing.