radiator overflow filling up quick...after agp turbo kit, ect. install

[Gabe92RTTT]

I actually had the head gasket suggested to me by a local member. I will pull the valve cover off and check the torque on the head bolts. If they are torqued properly perhaps the bolts stretched or the gasket didn't seal like you said. Thanks a lot as I didn't think of that, will report back with my findings.

 

[ddavisaf]

The bolts are supposed to stretch

 

[TURFNNSURF]

The bolts are supposed to stretch

NOT on a 1G. The torque to yield Head bolts that stretch are on the 7 bolt motors. Those can't be re-used.

 

[ddavisaf]

NOT on a 1G. The torque to yield Head bolts that stretch are on the 7 bolt motors. Those can't be re-used.

I thought his profile said 95, not 93. Good catch.

 

[Gabe92RTTT]

Yes I do have a 93, however this is for my 91 that I just picked up.

Well I took the valve cover off and started the retorquing sequence @ 70 lb ft. and three of the front bolts just turned in their place! I thought they were stripped at first! But they were just loose, I torqued them down to 70lb and they all snugged up ok.

Do you think the head gasket is ok and will seal (still almost brand new) or will I have to replace it? Well, I am going out to drive it now to see if it helped the overheating.

 

[dave99gst]

u may be ok - let us know if the prob went away.

 

[Gabe92RTTT]

Well no luck guys, it just prolongd the overheat time.

So, upon inspection of the headgasket, clinders 2 & 3 were leaking compression into the coolant jackets. Checked the head for warpage and it seems ok. Not sure what may have caused this. Maybe the shop didint' torque it down properly or it overheated from the split radiator hose and started the deterioration?

In any case, thanks for all your help and the spot on diagnosis. Will report back with final results of the new headgasket.

 

[Gabe92RTTT]

New headgasket and the thing is still pushing coolant!!

I really don't know what to do, maybe I just need to take it all apart and have the head and block decked?? I have pretty much tried everything else so this sucks! The car doesn't lose coolant at idle just under boost...

 

[cmptrphreak]

My anti-freeze always disappears somehow. Yesterday the hose that goes from the thermostat housing to the water line for the turbo blew up. So I was filling the system up today and was getting the air bubbles out and I noticed that all the fluid filled the overflow bottle and started pouring out threw the pipe that comes down from the tank. Can that be a thermostat? or the cap? Maybe something is clogged?

My radiator fans dont want to turn on either , So usually I just turn the a/c on since my A/C pump is disconnected. I heard people say something about a sensor or something that always goes out. Anybody know that was? thanx

 

[brute]

Maybe your thermostat is messed up. There might be junk in it, preventing any coolant to get in there. Also, it might not want to turn on the fans since it's messed up. It sounds like an thermosat!

 

[jeremy19984g63]

get a new radiator cap and thermosat and temp. sending unit

 

[cmptrphreak]

get a new radiator cap and thermosat and temp. sending unit

Temp sending unit whats that?

 

[megadeth0]

Temp sending unit whats that?

It's the sensor in your thermostat housing that sends the signal to the ECU for your temperature. But don't worry, for this problem you do NOT need to replace it. Just a thermostat and you should be ok.

 

[cmptrphreak]

I replaced the thermostat and tha fans still wont turn on and when I squeeze the upper hose its really pressurized. I put the stock 195 F in.

 

[megadeth0]

I replaced the thermostat and tha fans still wont turn on and when I squeeze the upper hose its really pressurized. I put the stock 195 F in.

You could have put the thermostat in backwards allowing full circulation all the time. It would take a long time just sitting and idling for the fans to come on at all if this is the case. The spring should face down. If it is in right, you may be plugged up somewhere. Pull the thermostat completely and run it without a thermostat. See if the pressure is the same in the upper hose. This way you can eliminate the possibility of buying a brand new "Bad" thermostat. I have worked parts and I can say, it happens. Good luck, I hope you get it figured out.WTF

 

[cmptrphreak]

Well See now the fans wont turn uon and it doesnt overheat. Could it be the cold weather in chicago? I beat on it a little bit and it doesnt overheat. Also when I go to the car in the morning and check the antifreeze it seems low but when i let it run for couple minutes it looks full.

 

[JusMX141]

I have bad news for you, your head gasket is shot. The reason the fans aren't running is because the system is being pressurized by the leaking head gasket and is pushing the coolant away from the engine/sender and into the recovery tank. The high pressure in the upper hose is a dead giveaway. If you plan on boosting your car much, this is a great time to install a nice new gasket and some ARP studs to keep that coolant where it belongs.

 

[Talesin]

There's no reason to jump right to a screwed head gasket.

Do a leakdown test, and watch for bubbles to form in the coolant. For a severe head gasket problem, leave the radiator cap off and crank it... if the HG is failed enough to be letting large amounts of exhaust gasses into the coolant, it'll probably give you a geyser that'll hit the underside of your hood and splash everywhere.

 

[larsenracing]

I was just going to say could it be the head gasket.

 

[GORBS88]

I have bad news for you, your head gasket is shot. The reason the fans aren't running is because the system is being pressurized by the leaking head gasket and is pushing the coolant away from the engine/sender and into the recovery tank. The high pressure in the upper hose is a dead giveaway. If you plan on boosting your car much, this is a great time to install a nice new gasket and some ARP studs to keep that coolant where it belongs.

You are exactly right...had the same trouble with my car.....and for checkin for bubbles in the coolant as the other guy said isnt always gonna work....i checked for bubles in mine and nuthin....ran the chemical to sniff for combustion gasses in the coolant and nuthin...there were no signs.....But it would puke into the over flow and then to the ground....pulled the head and saw it right away...good luck...

 

[cmptrphreak]

I screwed with that sensor on the bottom of the radiator today, and the fans turn on . As for it going to the reserve tank it doesnt do it anymore , atleast not now. I will do a leak down test though just to be sure . I dunno how it could be the head gasket. I put no a cometic head gasket with arp head studs and o-ringed the block.

 

[jeremy19984g63]

You are exactly right...had the same trouble with my car.....and for checkin for bubbles in the coolant as the other guy said isnt always gonna work....i checked for bubles in mine and nuthin....ran the chemical to sniff for combustion gasses in the coolant and nuthin...there were no signs.....But it would puke into the over flow and then to the ground....pulled the head and saw it right away...good luck...

The cooling system should have about 13 psi. on it when at running temp.

 

[cmptrphreak]

can the coolant bubble and spill out the reserve when there is little coolant and its overheated making jsut steam. Im leaking coolant from somewhere.

 

[PaulN]

Okay guys. I just noticed this yesterday and this morning. Searched and didn't find exactly this problem.

It's been cold out so I have been starting my car up in the morning to warm it up for my morning commute 43 miles one way. When I got home yesterday evening I noticed a small puddle where my car was sitting that morning. I figured it was just from filling my washer fluid tank over the weekend but just to be safe I parked in a different spot. I went out and started the car this morning and let it warm up and when I went out to go to work I noticed it was dripping coolant out the overflow hose. Interesting.

So here's what I know.

Car doesn't overheat, even idling for long periods. Always runs right in the middle of the guage after warming up.
Fans kick on as would be expected.
New thermostat
New fill cap
New waterpump
No smoke, white or otherwise at idle, normal driving or under boost
No foamy milky crap at the oil cap, or on the dipstick. Oil looks practically new after 1000 miles of use.
Heat works fine.

Matter of fact this engine was just put in the car 2 weeks ago and runs excellent.

The only things I can think of are as follows:

I noticed that the resevoir was low a couple of days after I put the engine in so I filled up again and I possibly put too much coolant in the overflow not leaving enough room for expansion so it's pissing out the extra.

Air in the system. Since this is two weeks into the new used engine, is it possible I have air in the system?

I will be checking compression as soon as I can. I'll report back with findings.

I am going to buy some of those test strips today to see if I have any Hydrocarbons in my coolant.


This is a used engine so I guess it could be just about anything. Am I missing any troublesooting steps? Any other words of wisdom any of you can offer to get to the bottom of this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DSM90AWD]

Is it possible that your thermostat gasket is leaking and following the overflow line down to the overflow tank? May also want to check to see if the tank itself is did not crack due to the weather and not the proper mix of coolant (e.g. froze and cracked)