Does Coolant Evaporate?
#1
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Does Coolant Evaporate?
I just installed the Mugen thermostat yesterday. I noticed that there is some coolant on my garage floor but I am not sure if that is a leak or if it is left over from when I refilled my radiator.
I refilled the radiator according to the procedure in the Helm manual which says to run the engine with the radiator cap off. I did that and some coolant started overflowing from the radiator. There was still some left on the plastic cover which protects the bottom of the radiator. I wiped off the coolant that initallly fell to the floor.
I took the car out for a long drive today and I'm trying to determine if this coolant that I see is from the initial spill when I refilled the radiator or if it is from a leak. I'm pretty sure I tightened all of the bolts to the spec in the manual. Could it be that the coolant I see is the unevaporated glycol?
I refilled the radiator according to the procedure in the Helm manual which says to run the engine with the radiator cap off. I did that and some coolant started overflowing from the radiator. There was still some left on the plastic cover which protects the bottom of the radiator. I wiped off the coolant that initallly fell to the floor.
I took the car out for a long drive today and I'm trying to determine if this coolant that I see is from the initial spill when I refilled the radiator or if it is from a leak. I'm pretty sure I tightened all of the bolts to the spec in the manual. Could it be that the coolant I see is the unevaporated glycol?
#5
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Some more tips:
- Clean up ALL residue off the radiator, housing, hoses, motor, etc... be sure to get everything off the splash shield and the bottom of the motor/tranny. Any that's left will stink for days and make it harder to smell/see a real leak.
- There are bleed valves at the intake manifold and the heater bypass- did you bleed these?
- Watch the level over 50 or 100 miles and be sure that the rad AND overflow stay full. Check both regularly and be sure the level does not drop.
- Coolant does not evaporate at room temperature (at least not more than water) but it will vaporize if left on a hot motor. Look for the characteristic "green" stain on the bottom of the motor/splash shield, coolant will run to the lowest/furthest place from the leak and leave a telltale trail.
- Be sure to run the heat some- get the heater bypass open a little. You need to be sure you get all the air out of the system... check the coolant level after a 100 miles or so, in both the rad and the overflow. Once properly filled, the level in both should not change.
- Clean up ALL residue off the radiator, housing, hoses, motor, etc... be sure to get everything off the splash shield and the bottom of the motor/tranny. Any that's left will stink for days and make it harder to smell/see a real leak.
- There are bleed valves at the intake manifold and the heater bypass- did you bleed these?
- Watch the level over 50 or 100 miles and be sure that the rad AND overflow stay full. Check both regularly and be sure the level does not drop.
- Coolant does not evaporate at room temperature (at least not more than water) but it will vaporize if left on a hot motor. Look for the characteristic "green" stain on the bottom of the motor/splash shield, coolant will run to the lowest/furthest place from the leak and leave a telltale trail.
- Be sure to run the heat some- get the heater bypass open a little. You need to be sure you get all the air out of the system... check the coolant level after a 100 miles or so, in both the rad and the overflow. Once properly filled, the level in both should not change.
#6
If you also did the higher pressure radiator cap, you are also putting the rest of the system under higher stress - so make sure that the seals are not deformed and that anything that you removed is properly tightened.
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Thanks marcucci. I'll try what you suggest. Yes, I bled the air but I could not get the coolant to flow out of those bleed points like the manual said. Can I just spray the radiator with some water to remove the coolant?
Sideways - I have some two ton jack stands and raised the car up to the third notch. My guess is that I raised the car at least 1 foot at the jack points. The front of the car probably had a two foot clearance. It was plenty of room for me to get under the car. The install took about 2 hours if you don't count the breaks and time I took to look for a 24mm socket
Sideways - I have some two ton jack stands and raised the car up to the third notch. My guess is that I raised the car at least 1 foot at the jack points. The front of the car probably had a two foot clearance. It was plenty of room for me to get under the car. The install took about 2 hours if you don't count the breaks and time I took to look for a 24mm socket