2quik4u

I have an AP1 - an '03, and what is happening is it's losing the reserve container's coolant fluid constantly.

Every 3 weeks, I have to refill the coolant reserve container's coolant level from the "MIN" line level to the "MAX" level. How am I losing coolant, and what could the problem be???

I have checked for leaks and see none - not from the reserve container, or the top cap, or the lines to the radiator. And no fluid under my car in the mornings.

The car has 63k miles on it, and NEVER did this before, except for the last few months. I've had the car since 36k miles. I use Generic 50/50 coolant fluid, and live in NC right now where the weather is cool now.

Bad radiator? Bad lines? Please help - I don't know cooling systems.

Thanks a lot!

Ry

Fusiondynamics

Check to see if you have any leaks. I had the same thing but found out that my radiator was cracking and started leaking more.

drhess06259

you have to pressure test it only way really to find out. you will hear it when you do. if you have no leaks then it's prob the cap. it would only leak from there when hot anyway. or could have blown a headgasket but i doubt that. have you checked your oil for coolant?

2quik4u

Which cap are you refering to that could be leaking??? The radiator's cap, or the coolant reserve container's cap?

How would I go about a "pressure test"???

... and what other signs are a blown headgasket??? I don't have any coolant in my oil I believe, but my s2k does burn a little oil.

2quik4u

Did you have to replace the radiator? Any how much did it set you back if you did?

drhess06259

to do a pressure test you need a pressure test kit, you can prob get it online or at a local store or have a local radiator shop do it for you.

the cap i am talking about is the rad cap. they brake all the time a leak fluid when hot. wont do it cold only hot..... new cap is about 10-15 bucks might just replace it out of piece of mind.

other signs of blown headgasket, is loss in power, oil in your coolant, coolant in your oil pan, car would smoke, or exhaust would smell "sweet". open up your oil cap(where you put the oil in the engine) and smell there.

btw new radiator is about 100 bucks.... used is a little cheaper

2quik4u

Car runs rich already because of a 3mm headgasket on a stock engine, so the smell the exhaust gives is decieving already. Car is also down on low-end power, just a little, do to the gasket. Gasket has been on the car 3 years and no problem so far (40k miles).

I don't believe it is a blown head-gasket, but would it smoke constently? My s2k sometimes will smoke when idleing... like today, I noticed a little poof of gray smoke coming out of the exhaust at a stop light. And I don't think it was condensation.

I believe it's an inline pro 3mm headgasket installed by previous owner when car was boosted incredibly high - like 440whp or some crap. Never had the money because of my payments to install stock head gasket.

...but ...

Whould this all be related to the coolant I keep losing in my coolant container???

Ralleh

Yipes...that might be a HG after all. Hopefully not, but at the very least you're running 9:1 compression on an NA motor which would be pretty crappy.

2quik4u

Yea - you would think so. But...

I just had this discussion 2 years ago in this forum about the 3mm headgasket. We came to a conclusion that in this case, I had surprising power results up against competition with the gasket and claimed to be down on power, yes, but still very quick... much quicker than you'd think with that gasket.

Not sure if the car was tuned to match up with it or what, but the previous owner, a Honda tech, did all the work and removal of the turbo.

I know it sucks, and I know I've never seen the best of my car, but it's still amazing with it for some reason. If this is the headgasket, too bad I'm broke. If it isn't or I can deal with it just a few months more, I can get it done in January. Hope no damage gets done... not sure what to do here... just keep refilling it, then change the gasket?

2quik4u

OK WE MIGHT BE onto something here. I just went outside and popped the hood and looked at my gasket... because its 3mm I can see it good. Lol.

I look around it and see what looks to be something wet seeping through the cracks of the edges around the head gasket...

NOT soaking WET BUT, looks like something wet has been there, ya know?

Where as the rest of the engine is clean and silver... looks dirty around the edges of the gasket too, but nowhere else. Maybe leaking through since I see spots around gasket. Will it hurt to keep driving? Just refill coolant every few weeks??