Radiator Problem?

[ekcoupe]

Hi:wave:,

Ok i was driving home on the motorway an the car started over heating, i pulled over an checked that there was no coolant or water in the radiator or the coolant reservior, i checked before i left an it was full.

So i filled it up with water an a bit of coolant an drove on the motorway for about 20 mins an it started over heating an when i got home all the water an coolant was gone again:(

next day i did a pressure test on it to try an find a leak, but it seems to be perfectly fine:confused:

i have been driving around the streets an it has been fine lately, an my friend had a little drive an hitting vtec a few times an still was completly fine an was not overheating an i checked it after that an the radiator was full.

Would anyone know what happend?

[flipfire]

Some leaks only show when expanded by the heat. Check again under operating temps.

Either that or its mixing in with your oil

[ekcoupe]

Thanks, but i did check under operating temperature an still no leaks

an if it was mixing with the oil wouldnt it be milky?, i just checked the oil an that looks fine

[na-118]

you test the radiator cap?
any signs of leaking head gasket?

[ekcoupe]

you test the radiator cap? what do you mean?
any signs of leaking head gasket? Nope my mechanic couldnt find anything

[flipfire]

Yes if its ur headgasket your oil and oil cap will be milky, also white smoke out the back.

3L+ of fluid has to end up somewhere, it will eventually show up.

[ekcoupe]

lol true, well ill check it again tomorrow but it looked fine today an was running very smooth as well

[na-118]

you test to the radiator cap? it should come with the radiator perssue test kit

[ekcoupe]

yep my mechanic did that an couldn't find any leaks

[na-118]

so he test both radiator and radiator cap?
when he was during pressure test any signs of pressure dropping?

[ekcoupe]

1st question - yep
2nd - nope

[CivicEH9]

A friend of mine had a problem a bit like this in her Pulsar. Couldn't drive far without having to constantly top up the radiator but then the leak mysteriously disappeared.
Turned out the core plugs had completely corroded which caused a massive leak and then the holes were plugged up by all the mess in the engine. That was a rather badly maintained engine though but I guess it could happen to anything over time. Maybe something to look at anyway if you can't figure out what else it could be

Oh and I should probably point out I have no idea where you would find them on your engine but I would assume they're there in some form or another

[ekcoupe]

thanks mate thats a huge help:)

[Bludger]

even the tiniest of leaks will cause a lot of coolant loss.

been dealing with mine for over a year now.

check your hoses.

with a very small leak.......when coolant is full, it will lose at a very, very slow rate. as you go, the more coolant that is lost, it will lose coolant faster.

hope you know what i mean.

there is definitely a leak, keep checking, check everything that has to do with the cooling system. your mechanic won't find it, they don't have the time and patience to find such a small leak. just take your time over a few weeks to find it.

- fans working?
- check all heater/coolant hoses
- hose clamps.

etc/.

[grifty]

try leaving the car on while it is stationary and look for any signs of a leak.

[beeza]

But bludger the pressure test should have exposed the leak though yeah?

I totally agree with what your saying though,I just thought that the pressure test would have exposed it.

Will check out the 'core plugs',thanks for that!

[ekcoupe]

thanks guys:) i will keep looking for this leak...

[Bludger]

But bludger the pressure test should have exposed the leak though yeah?

I totally agree with what your saying though,I just thought that the pressure test would have exposed it.

Will check out the 'core plugs',thanks for that!don't know, but our ca leaks tiny minute droplets of coolant. the more it loses, the faster it loses.

[grifty]

But bludger the pressure test should have exposed the leak though yeah?

I totally agree with what your saying though,I just thought that the pressure test would have exposed it.

Will check out the 'core plugs',thanks for that!

not really, remember things expand when they heat up.

[beeza]

^^ True true aye!

Looks like it maybe the core plugs also..

[beeza]

Honda's don't have 'core plugs' OR 'freeze plugs',they have:

"Block Drain plugs"

[CivicEH9]

Well there you go I wasn't sure if it would be the same for Hondas. Is it something similar to core plugs though? From what I understand core plugs are a result of the casting process for the block in other engines so I'm guessing block drain plugs basically do the same job

[beeza]

Yeah,I think they are the same things,U can completely drain the coolant from the block by removing them,how cool is that! :)

Hopefully they wont be a big job to replace then aye!

[grifty]

Yeah,I think they are the same things,U can completely drain the coolant from the block by removing them,how cool is that! :)

Hopefully they wont be a big job to replace then aye!

if you can access them easily then it isnt a big job, but if u cant then it aint going to be cheap.....

[beeza]

I think U should be able to get at em' easy cause they are there to drain the coolant..

[grifty]

they are not there to drain the coolant, they are there to cover up the holes made in the casting process.

im assuming u are talking about these

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://classicmotoring.net.au/cmos/images/aec876c.jpg&imgrefurl=http://classicmotoring.net.au/cmos/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D11_59&usg=__Gh1ndsECy51mptWOEESCLvuoJAU=&h=240&w=320&sz=8&hl=en&start=35&zoom=1&tbnid=aNQHncQ7nyw1XM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwelsch%2Bplug%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa fe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D887%26tbs%3 Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=625&oei=GeOITKfNHYKUvAPLq5CVBA&esq=undefined&page=2&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:35&tx=32&ty=62

[SajadEG]

on Topic boyz, my reserve seems to be emptying itself every time i drive...yet the radiator itself stays full.
I replaced both radiator and reserve couple days ago and cleaned hoses and there is no leaks
wtf is happening

[grifty]

on Topic boyz, my reserve seems to be emptying itself every time i drive...yet the radiator itself stays full.
I replaced both radiator and reserve couple days ago and cleaned hoses and there is no leaks
wtf is happening

what kind of coolant are you using? does it have anti-boil? when i was using cheap ass coolant it would boil in the reserve tank meaning every few days i had to top up.

[beeza]

they are not there to drain the coolant, they are there to cover up the holes made in the casting process.

im assuming u are talking about these

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://classicmotoring.net.au/cmos/images/aec876c.jpg&imgrefurl=http://classicmotoring.net.au/cmos/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D11_59&usg=__Gh1ndsECy51mptWOEESCLvuoJAU=&h=240&w=320&sz=8&hl=en&start=35&zoom=1&tbnid=aNQHncQ7nyw1XM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwelsch%2Bplug%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa fe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1920%26bih%3D887%26tbs%3 Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=625&oei=GeOITKfNHYKUvAPLq5CVBA&esq=undefined&page=2&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:35&tx=32&ty=62

That link is for a mini,so maybe different but the ones in honda's engines are called:

"Block Drain plugs" - 'Drain',to 'drain' the coolant.

Which U would assume would be an easy swap over because U should be able to access them from the outside no problem?

Does anyone know?

[flipfire]

Yeah theres also a coolant drain plug on the block, it is a pain in the ass to take out.

[beeza]

Also? So there are both:

Block drain plugs (coolant drain plugs) and casting holes/plugs U think flipfire?

To remove,would U drain the coolant,say punture a hole with a chisel or something,get a tool in there and pop it out?


I'm trying to find out the problem,where the coolant is leaking from.

[beeza]

Here's a coolant drain bolt' on a d-series,it's on the back of the block:

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/yy25/beeza4/77137_DSC00096_122_17lo.jpg

It maybe leaking from there OR these 'casting holes/plugs'?

I'll ring Honda and ask em'

[ekcoupe]

Thanks heaps Beez for helping me out:D

[beeza]

Anytime brotha!

That pic is the front of the block too but it maybe located at the back near the oil filter and if it is it's tricky to get to.

Next is to find that and make sure it's done up tight!

If it is then check out these casting holes/plugs.

Will ring Honda soon,they are at lunch now.

[ekcoupe]

Ok awesome, will see ya the sarvy then;)

[SajadEG]

what kind of coolant are you using? does it have anti-boil? when i was using cheap ass coolant it would boil in the reserve tank meaning every few days i had to top up.

yeh it boils, ill get that chekd

[beeza]

All fixed!

Was a loose clamp at the bottom of the radiator holding the big hose on... :)