Coolant Leak

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TuRbOS13
Posts: 69
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:13 am
Car: 91 S13 Coupe KaT

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Its a Turboed KA. I run no thermostat so my engine doesnt overheat. After a decent drive for maybe like 10 minutes I look under the hood at the radiator cap and there is some coolant spilled around it. If I go for a shorter drive for like 5 mins it only leaks out sometimes. I don't think its overheating cuz the engine feels warm-regular temp and the temp gauge never goes higher than medium. Any feedback is appreciated.


Cone Junky
Posts: 622
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:06 am
Car: S13 fastback
BMW e46 328i
Location: San Diego

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There is a chance your temp gauge is incorrect, but a greater chance you have a blown headgasket pressurizing your cooling system

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TuRbOS13
Posts: 69
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:13 am
Car: 91 S13 Coupe KaT

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I have no symptoms of a blown head gasket. Smooth idle and no sweet smell, like coolant burning. It doesnt smoke white at all.

Cone Junky
Posts: 622
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:06 am
Car: S13 fastback
BMW e46 328i
Location: San Diego

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Just because there isn't coolant leaking into the combustion chamber doesn't mean there isn't combustion gasses/pressure going into your coolant. Think about it...cooling system pressure is usually around 15-20 psi and engine compression is about 150-180 PSI. Which way do you think pressure is going to move first?

You need a block tester or an exhaust gas sniffer to check for CO in the cooling system.

Things like this happen when you boost an engine that wasn't meant to be boosted.

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TuRbOS13
Posts: 69
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:13 am
Car: 91 S13 Coupe KaT

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Ok i'll look into that. What are some other symptoms that I should be encountering if I have that headgasket problem?


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