The Case of the Missing Water

[natsoundup]

I have been in a quandry now for about two months with the 90Q.

It is drinking water. It loses about 8 0z a day. I know it's hot in South Carolina, but this is ridiculous.

Under the plenum and in the well appears dry as a bone. No puddles. No signs of water in the oil.

The car runs perfect.

It's just that each morning I make sure my son puts some water in through the radiator. That's the second part that makes no sense. It's not sucking water in from the reservoir first. The reservoir hose is fine. It is attached and not pinched or anything.

Can't find any leaks around the water pump. I am telling you it is dry as a bone in there.

It must be some minor leak that is hitting some hot metal and evaporating.

I put in an obligatory bottle of Bar's Leaks, just in case there was a minor freeze plug issue, but that doesn't seem to do anthing either.

And I don't think another bottle of Bar's Leaks is a good idea.

Of course my biggest concern is that if I don't keep reminding him of adding water, it will overheat on the interstate and be kaput.

[Jeff Williams]

Definitely DON'T put another bottle of that stuff in the car.

How old is your water pump? Is there any signs of steam leaving the pressure cap?

I would cosnider a complete coolant system flush, and re-fill.

[natsoundup]

Water pump is original. No sign of any leaks or weaps. I did the flush and fill once already.

I have used Bar's Leaks periodically over the last 30 years with no harmful effects.

I replaced the obvious radiator cap. The other one seems fine, too. I thought the radiator cap would be the ticket, but it's not.

[pito11213]

You only have water in your radiator?

I would recommend running prestone 50/50.

[911/Q45]

Check for cracks in the plastic side tanks of the radiator. I got one on the passenger side when a sloppy dealer changed the A/C dryer without removing the battery.

[HeavyDuty]

Check for cracks in the plastic side tanks of the radiator. I got one on the passenger side when a sloppy dealer changed the A/C dryer without removing the battery.

Bingo!

That's where my radiator was leaking, no smell, no puddle in the garage, also no damage, just a good size pin hole that spewed under pressure.

Buy a cheap pressure tester, it's a radiator cap with a hand pump, screw it on the radiator, pump it up, look for the geyser.

[squeefoo]

A Water pump can do the same thing, no smell or anything.Look for a calcium buildup around the weep hole underneath w/a mirror. Never heard of a headgasket yet here in 4 yrs. between Yahoo/NICO. Would a tank gasket do it?

[PoorManQ45]

You only have water in your radiator?

I would recommend running prestone 50/50.

I have recently started running a 90 water to 10 radiator fluid. I have noticed that the temperature gauge stays a little lower. I drained the fluid again, refilled with a 50/50 mix, and the temp gauge went to about half way. So, I drained the fluid yet again. refilled it with a 90/10 mix, and the temp gauge stayed lower than than if I had a 50/50 mix in it.

Can someone explain this. I know that the fluid might frezze, but I live in FL, so that isn't a problem. Are there any other problems with running a 90/10 mix?

Also, I need to do an under plenum hose job. There is radiator fluid leaking in between the cylinder banks. Where do I get the hoses from?

[PalmerWMD]

90/10 is too thin.Thats coming from me and I like thin.

Also ONLy use distilled water, never tap water to fill up.

Fred.

[PoorManQ45]

I only use distilled water. Don't want anything growing in the cooling system.

What do you mean by to thin? And, can you explain why the temperature stays lower with a 90/10 mix?

Q45Tech, could you help me out here?

[pito11213]

Well too thin meaning not enough radiator fluid.

I should be more 70/30

Be weary of the temp gauge as according to q45 tech is doesnt give you true engine internal temp reading just the reading at the filler neck.

[911/Q45]

Water is a more effective heat transfer agent than antifreeze, therefore more water=lower engine temp. Antifreeze is also an anticorrosive, so you need at least 25% to prevent damage.

[PoorManQ45]

Be weary of the temp gauge as according to q45 tech is doesnt give you true engine internal temp reading just the reading at the filler neck.

The temperature sending unit is not at the filler neck. It is behind the thermostat.

I know that by "to thin" he meant not enough radiator fluid. Are there any real negative affects of running a 90/10 mix?

[redmanfx]

1 bottle of Redline's Water Wetter is good for the first gens(all of them really). It's good for hot running cars(racing). Add with 70/30 mix. I also use only Niassan green coolant.

red

[PoorManQ45]

Please help me. I need to do an under plenum hose jod. Do I have to buy the kit to do it? Or can I just buy rubber hoses from a hardwares store? Are any of the hoses high pressure? What size hoses do I need?

Also, how much does the kit cost, if I have to buy the kit.

Q45.org has the instructions for doing the job. It seems pretty simple. Also, while I have the upper plenum off, I'll clean it, and the TB out. Is there anything else that I should do while I have the intake off?

[redmanfx]

joe has the hose kit at a special price. Please don't get hoses at the hardware store.

red

[PoorManQ45]

Does joe have a web site?

Why shouldn't I get hoses from the hardware store? What are all the lines that have to be replaced? What do they carry? I'm really good at plumbing. I was thinking, would there be any problem with using 1/4-1/2 in pvc pipe?

[PoorManQ45]

using pvc, would make it so that the job would not have to be down agin for a very long time. Is there anything that will eat through pcv pipe?

[DAEDALUS]

Good luck getting straight rubber hoses to bend and twist into place without kinking. Good luck also in getting straight hose to accomodate end fittings with different diameters. Finally, good luck getting PVC--asuming you could even fasten its ends on--to withstand the underhood temperatures; I don't think PVC is even rated to carry hot water, is it?http://www.everythinginfiniti.com

[redmanfx]

Joe is one of our sponsors on the left of the page. http://www.everythinginfiniti.com is a great place to get the things you need for your plenum job. The hose kit is aroung 135.00 I think. just click on the site and put in your year and model. The Plenum hose kit is just for your Q and there would be no guess work. No PVC. We want your Q to last!! Give him a call. He's a good guy and will talk with you about what you need. The parts and things are discounted as well. Good luck PoormanQ45....

red

[PoorManQ45]

What are the hoses made of? PVC can take temps up to about 235 degrees.

I brought up PVC just to suggest an alternative to the norm.

Are the hoses that come in the kit made of something other than rubber?

[Jeff Williams]

The great thing about the kit, is that you will probably have everything you need, once you get the plenum off. There is not a lot of spare room, under the plenum, for hard piping. Plus, there needs to be some flex in the pipes, in order to get the thing back together.

You are correct, that PVC can handle hot water, and it is much cheaper than custom pre-fit hoses. The problem arises, when you add vibration, heat, and glycol to the solution. I doubt the connections could handle the stress, of under hood life.

Once yo uget the plenum off, and start tearing into the hoses/lines, yo uwill not want to have to do it again, for a while. That is why a lot of people say to replace the knock sensors, and the wiring harness. These things fail, and you ahve to remove the plenum, to replace them.

I would like to see someone do a SS braided line kit for the car. The problem is, that the hoses should last another 10 years, and 200,000 miles. Not many people keep their car 20 years, and drive 400,000 milesm though.

[PoorManQ45]

I was just thinking about using SS braided lines. What are the hoses in the kit made of? Could I use high temp rubber hoses from the hardware store?

[squeefoo]

I was just thinking about using SS braided lines. What are the hoses in the kit made of? Could I use high temp rubber hoses from the hardware store?

I replaced my under plenum hoses with those flexible drinking straws from Wal-Mart for $.99. You splice the ends with 5 minute epoxy, works great!

Don't believe any of them they just want you to do it right.

[Jesda]

LOL!

[PoorManQ45]

I replaced my under plenum hoses with those flexible drinking straws from Wal-Mart for $.99. You splice the ends with 5 minute epoxy, works great! .

That was my next option.

Just because my ideas are different doesn't mean that they are automatically wrong.

Just because everybody does something one way, doesn't mean that they're right. Not saying that you guys are wrong.

Think outside of the box. Here's an example, since everybody here recommends tokico blue shocks, does that mean that if tein or some other suspension company created a kit for the Q, you wouldn't buy it because it's different.

[Q451990]

I have heard of someone using SS braided lines a few years ago, but I can't remember who it was or where I saw it. Most of the hoses under the plenum are for PCV gases and Vacuum routing. A few other hoses are for coolant. Many of the hoses are molded and larger on one end than the other - so it would be even more of a challenge to get everything working.

Good luck!

Heath

[natsoundup]

I've been hijacked...or my thread has!!!!

LOL

I am going to look hard at the weep hole in the water pump... and look for one of those radiator pressure things.

It could be a couple of weekends til I get to it..... If there isn't a hurricane hitting us this weekend...I am headed to the beach in the 94 for some R and R.

[elwesso]

Heath, I thought there was a vacuum line kit someone posted here with the SS lines...

Seriously PMQ, tackle the evil spider with anything other than OEM and he will bite you, sting you, and ultimately cause some sort of injury. OK not really, but heres how I see it....

1. PVC pipe would be impossible ESPECIALLY on the Y shaped hose2. hardware hose would kink

Anything else woudl be too hard or not economincal!!!

[maxnix]

And your VH45DE will die.

It is ultimately cheaper (more cost effective) to get the OEM hose kit.

I really think you need to take a hard look at what's involved before you decide to improvise.

Now, let's talk about the knock sensors and the KS harness.
Modified by maxnix at 4:47 PM 9/1/2004