Wrapped header causing coolant problems???

[KA13]

Ok, back story is that I've been experiencing a bad rattle from the lower heat shield. I had already removed the upper shield and wrapped that portion of the header when I swapped motors. I decided that rather than tack weld it, again, to keep it from rattling I would just remove the shield and wrap that portion of the pipe.

Everything went well, extremely well for removing old header bolts. Got it wrapped and coated and put back on this morning. I let it idle as suggested (Had to cure?) and I went inside for a few minutes. I went back out to check on it to see if it was still smoking and low and behold smoke is pouring out of my hood. I quickly popped the hood to see if anything was on fire (yes there was that much smoke) and the smoke was coming from the coolant reservoir tank.

For some reason it was pouring out of the reservoir and running down into the battery tray. That whole section of the fender was smoking. Here is my problem. Let me make it clear, it did NOT do that before I wrapped the header. Why would it do that now? They aren't directly related and I've never heard of this happening. To top it off its idling at 2,000 rpm's versus the 800-1000 it normally does.

Please, I need some help with this. I'm at a major loss as to why this happened.

[VNG704]

I would actually look at your cooling system and not the header. Do you have fans on your radiator? Sometime if your car is not moving... just sitting there, on, it doesn't get sufficient cooling capability. Or that's what I noticed on my M3 when I took out the clutch fan and didn't have an electric fan setup ... yet. Another thing, check the coolant temp sensor for your 2000 rpm idle. Cheap item. Probably directly related too.

[KA13]

I was wondering if that could be the problem. I removed the clutch fan a while ago and haven't had problems with it idling before don't know why it would start now.

I've already replaced the CTS not even a year ago.

[VNG704]

It only happened to me "sometimes" aswell when there were no fan in there. But I do believe that is your problem.

edit: I just wanted to add that removing the heat shield added more heat to the engine bay vs the reduced, shielded heat emiting from the headers.
Modified by VNG704 at 3:40 PM 4/3/2009

[KA13]

Awesome, I can deal with that being the problem. I was worried that for some odd reason the wrap had caused it. I'm going to take her for a small drive and see how she acts with cold air hitting the radiator.

Side note. Temp. gauge didn't even read warm.

[Logan76]

So you dont have any fan's at all? I would bet money that is your problem, put the clutch fan back on or just invest in an E-fan, you don't want your car overheating in traffic next time.

[KA13]

Got back in from my drive. Had her up around 3k to 4k most of the time trying to make her hot and no problem so I'm betting that is the problem. Could smell burnt coolant from the engine bay but I think it's just what was left from the spill over.

Would love to get an e-fan but money is currently non-existent. Only wrapped it because I've had the stuff to do it since last year and just hadn't gotten around to it since I had something else to drive.

Guess I'm going back to the clutch fan. Thanks everyone for the fast responses.

[Logan76]

pull one from a junkyard and hard wire it to a toggle switch, cost you like 15$ man.

[KA13]

I've found a universal fans on ebay I'll grab it next paycheck. $30 shipped isn't that bad. I'd spend that extra money just in gas to get to the nearest junkyard. Even then I doubt I'd walk away with fans for $15 from there. Had to pay $65 for an ECU.

Here's what I'm looking at...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

I'll probably just wire it to the ignition instead. I'd get tired of having to switch it on if I want it running all the time anyway.