Skyline RB20DET OVERHEATING BAD!!! Help??!?!?!?

[krispenev]

OK, hopefully you guys can give me a helping hand here....I need it.

My RB20 has been giving me nightmares the past 2 days. After I dusted some kid in a Mustang, my Skyline overheated badly, and I've never seen a car do it as bad as this. I parked the car, and popped the hood. What I saw almost put me to tears. '

There was steam coming from the back of the engine , right up against the firewall. I took a look underneath the car, and the coolant was leaking underneath the transmission, infact, it was leaking and hissing all over the transmission near the firewall. I cant see where it was coming from, but it was dripping on the transmission. What the f___ is back there that it could be leaking and hissing like that?

Would a broken line cause the engine to loose all that coolant and overheat? I understand that I could be a bad hose or something, but that should never cause it to overheat, should it? The coolant should still circulate through the system.

I dont know what the do.

The rad is good, and so is the thermostat. I had those checked when I bought the car. The cooling system was a little clogged, but after they flushed they system, everything was flowing perfectly, so I dont think it is the obvious things.

If anyone has any ideas, I am all ears. The car is basically stock, except for exhaust, blitz ecu, blitz bov, and suspension work. From what I know, the boost is not increased from stock aswell.

Thanks a million.

[themadscientist]

You blew the hard line that runs around the back of the engine from under the intake over to the turbo. It is the water feed for the center section. Your car overheats because your coolant escapes. RB20s run hot as hell when in good shape, fix this immediately before you damage the engine.

[krispenev]

Thanks bro.

Is this something that I can do myself, or am I looking to sell a body part to pay for this repair?

If you or anyone knows the procedures for repairing this disaster, please give me a hint or two. Thanks.

[Eikon]

I've had that same coolant line pop off in the past. It's held on by a little clamp that is very weak. Jack up the car, start it up, get underneath it, and find the leak.. then get a new clamp that you can screw tight.. those are the best.

I'm assuming is the same one that TMS mentioned above.. look underneath the intake manifold at the back of the block... it's a hard line that connects to a soft line..

[themadscientist]

The hard line likely corroded and developed a pinhole or crack. I have had two or three of these things fail in exactly the same way. It's a straight up ***** to replace too.

[Encryptshun]

In other news, R32s are now so cheap in Canada that you can buy one and not have the money to get it fixed if something breaks...

Yeah, I know that's not necessarily the case, but it's a convenient way for me to maintain my healthy resentment/jealousy of Canada.

GL with the fix, man. And post some pics of your ride!

[krispenev]

Hey, they aren't so cheap. I imported mine, so it was slightly cheaper than buying it from someone else, but then again, with all the repairs I have done recently, I might aswell have bought it from someone here and actually inspected the car thoroughly before purchasing it. Who knows, I drive it pretty hard , so stuff breaks , what are u gonna do.

I dont know how to add pictures. sorry.

[Encryptshun]

Well, welcome to NiCO, congrats on your Skyline (lucky SOB grrr ). However, just because you need to know the lay of the land around here, I'm going to give you some advice: I wouldn't recommend talking about and especially not bragging about racing against another car/beating another car/driving aggressively/driving in such a manner that you break stuff, if any of that takes place on a public road. NiCO members are enthusiasts, not street racers, and most of them would flame you (mercilessly) if you are unsafe in your vehicle and then make it public.

Just food for thought.

[krispenev]

Fair enough, but who said I was racing this guy on the street???? Thats not me bro... Anyways, I appreciate ur advice, I do.

TMS or Eikon, if you guys are out there, how did you go about replacing that line, did you have to remove the intake manifold to get at it? I was looking at that whole mess back there and I couldnt even get my little fingers in there, how did you guys do it.

Theres a few lines back there, maybe I;ll take a picture, and figure out how to post it on here cause I really cant see which one it could be.

[edthemanjp]

Could be your heater hoses there back there too

[themadscientist]

You won't be able to see it, just feel it out.

[krispenev]

Is it a molded hose, like one with multiple elbows?

[themadscientist]

you need to be sure if it is a hose or the metal pipe. where you described sounds like the pipe not the hose.

[krispenev]

Sounds expensive. Any idea where I would be able to acquire this piece??? The car is at a shop right now. By the time I drove it 2km from my house to the shop, it started hissing and steaming again, and lets not forget the big puddle of coolant.

I cant visualize this pipe, is there diagrams of this somewhere? I;m gonna take a look and see if I can post it on here if I can find it.

[FerrariTruck]

Sounds expensive. Any idea where I would be able to acquire this piece??? The car is at a shop right now. By the time I drove it 2km from my house to the shop, it started hissing and steaming again, and lets not forget the big puddle of coolant.

I cant visualize this pipe, is there diagrams of this somewhere? I;m gonna take a look and see if I can post it on here if I can find it.

Your comment has been edited for content and for bringing up an old thread.

And according to your signature, if you continue trolling, you'll find yourself on a vacation.

Thanks for playing.

-The staff.

[sleeth21]

What happened to this thread? It was really helping me. I have the exact same problem. i can see where it dripping. I have followed it for back as possible but can not see it.

[themadscientist]

It's damned-near impossible to see it. you can just catch glimpse of the hard line if you look behind the head. It's a goldish color and bolted to the head with a strap. It tees off a water hose under the intake manifold that you can't see, runs around the back of the motor and feeds water to the center section of the turbo.
I have had to replace three of these over the years and it never gets easier. I close my eyes and it helps me visualize what I am doing. It makes it a little easier, but it ain't easy. The rat's next of coolant lines on an RB is a major PITA.

[sleeth21]

im trying to get a diagram or something so i can see what all back there. Is there something i can remove to see it better and fix it.

[themadscientist]

You would have to remove the intake manifold to get a better view of one end, remove the exhaust manifold to get a better view of the other end and bend the firewall back with a crowbar to see the middle, so essentially, "no." I'm not kidding. You can NOT see 90% of this particular part. It's all done by touch. Sorry, I wish it wasn't the case, but that's what you're up against. good hunting noble wrenchturner.

[Gold Digger]

Or, you could just pull the motor out. That would do it, too.

[edthemanjp]

Or, you could just pull the motor out. That would do it, too.

This or partially remove the motor (motor mounts and pull engine forward)and I think this is easier than fixing it in place as themadscientist states major pita.

[sleeth21]

All right so here is the deal I'm getting it fixed but I'm not doing it personal I'm getting someone else to do it. So does anyone have some nice 1 2 3 steps on the easiest way. He will have access to lifts and all the tool as well.