radiator losing water: --- urgent advice needed

civic SIR · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:13 am Post subject:

still sounds like the fan malfunctioning......... guage going up @ standstill and high speeds......

fordfanatic · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

if the coolant circulation system i.e. the water pump, hoses and radiator are functioning properly, wouldn't driving at higher speeds replace the job of the fan? and sitting in traffic with no fan be like blocking the air flow thru the radiator? if spirited driving causes the pressure in the cooling system to build up to the point of pushing out all the water then at higher speed you are actually driving with lower or no water in the radiator.Which will cause the over heating. What if the thermostat controls the pressure in the cooling system? without it the engine is building more pressure than the cap can deal with so u loses water.

p.s. i am having this exact problem with my car, last night i put on a new water bottle cover that have a higher psi rating and when i was "spiritedly" driving on the highway the bottle cover flew off when i pulled over and checked water level was good so i expect that with the system sealed off the pressure reached so high that it just blew off the cover.........

legendkiller@1891 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:03 am Post subject:

i think you should really consider doing an engine swap.

fordfanatic · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

who me? nah i think i'll sell and let someone else do the engine swap......

legendkiller@1891 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

lol no not you but ok!. i was referring to adriano7910,

fordfanatic · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

yes i agree...... he has lots of options right?? if it is a mechanical failure in the engine itself it should not be that hard to just change the engine right..... maybe reuse the tranny....

legendkiller@1891 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:43 am Post subject:

im not sure about the 'lots of options' but if he said he done all those things an change all sorts of parts an the problem is still their, then i think its best he do an engine swap its what i would of done... But just friday i was in bamboo an dem fellaz coasin ah d15b engine is about 8k complete...

fordfanatic · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:45 am Post subject:

damn.... that price steep

legendkiller@1891 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:49 am Post subject:

yep it is and to my knowing just recently(earlier in the year) a d15b engine an harness was 3500 for the most...

adriano7910 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

at high speed temp ramains normal.
its when the car stops or slows to a crawl after then the temp gauge goes up but as i said only after hard driving
if u constantly drive at normal sppeds temp gauge remains normal at half

bluesteel29 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject:

fan...or fan switch
check ur fuses/relays also

the rad not gettin enough breeze to cool the coolant at stop an go intervals

silver racer · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

check fan or thermal sensor unit.

adriano7910 · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

oily residue was a previous problem b4 the gaskets where changed. hasnt happen since. i did wat you said and there was no gas pressure in the radiator just the usual hot water that wld pour over when u open a warm/hot full radiator. fuses, relays, rad fan and fan switch where checked today. all good. and another think i forgot to mention which i didnt think was relevant but found out it cld be today when i asked out of ignorance:- the car often weak starts when u start it for the first time after a while of rest and if u imediately switch off and start it again itll start more or less normal after. checked another mechanic but we was busy but i talked to him. he said it cld be the the head cracked (which causing the starting issue and the heating problem)even doh it was shaved and he said it cld be a bad water pump(malfunctioning or rotted fins). i need you all second third ninth opinions plz. thanks for the continued support

ek4ever · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject:

this has happened to me twice...losing coolant.... except no oil in my coolant....when this happens I know it's because of some pinhole leak somewhere in the cooling system ... I don't bother to try and find it ... I simply replace all cooling system hoses, thermostat and pressure test the radiator and service it if required...refill with Honda coolant....always solves the problem

So the main difference here is the head gasket replacement and shaving you did....I suspect it's what others have been saying....cracked head

maZdaspeed6 · Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject:

try Bar's Stop Leak

http://www.barsproducts.com/C16_R6.htm

Morpheus · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 1:23 am Post subject:

Nooooooooooooo.....cooling system problems!! My both previous car had me going through this.

One was a leaking hose, sprays coolant/water when the pressure in the system raises. Most times you wont see it because by the time you check, the heat in the engine bay already evaporate it.

The second was a faulty radiator cap Confused

Follow the advise you getting here. Most of these guys are talking from first hand experience I am sure

And good luck

sMASH · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:46 am Post subject:

when my b13 head was leaking i did not get oil in my radiator.
to me, it sounds as though the heat from the engine not being dissipated properly, due to the fact that the temp increases and decreases due to different conditions. if the rad fan or the water pump not functioning properly, the heat would not be removed from the water and it would raise and lower the temps the thermo unit is sensing. the heat buildup would cause the water to evaporate as it not being cooled sufficiently by the radiator.
i not suspecting the problem is a leakage alone as the temp raises and lowers. it would remain constant as long as there is water circulation and cooling, then when the water level drops, it would go up, and only come down when the system cools.

not suspecting is a head leak because when i had a single core with the rb, the temps raised and lowered with driving speed, day to night temps. apparently the rad was just sized to this engine, and there were no faults in the system, just not enough cooling was goin on. the two core had it rock steady.

adriano7910 · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:55 pm Post subject:

update: turns out the new head gasket was defective so the car is in the shop as we speak replacing it. i hope no other gaskets got burned in the process of driving with the new(bad)head gasket. this was realised on a maracus run. lost a lot of radiotor coolant. level was really low. i let it cool filled it back started the engine with the radiator cap off.and wat do u no.to my surprise water shot out of the radiator and was sligthly bubbling during idling suggesting loss in compression i believe it is. headache and lot of wasted money. thanks for all the help guys

Mosaic · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject:

Hmmm,

New head gasket didn't last? Perhaps you should get a performance gasket. Possibly they shaved 2 much on your head and now your compression will defeat a regular gasket as well as overburden your cooling system. Add another fan to your radiator, either a push or a pull. Do u have a knock sensor in your car? Cuz if not you could be detonating with Hi Comp on Super gas causing Head gasket failure on hi load trips like maracas.

Pull your plugs and inspect for shiny particles embedded in the porcelain....if you got those sparklies u got detonation.

C is for Cyc · Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 1:17 am Post subject:

I tink there is a test for blown HG..i dunno if this is true..but i saw my mechanic take an bottle half filled with water turned it over an placed it in radiator if u get bubbles shooting out in a tornado like movement..Head gasket gone if not its not your head gasket...i wanted to see if the above was true so i tested the test Mr. Green

on 6 vehicles accesible to me

suzuki liana
b11 sunny
honda eg8
almera
b15
cefiro (mines which was only vehicle with bubbles)

you all can clarify this

adriano7910 · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:06 pm Post subject:

got back the car. works perfectly. as for the amount shaved its far below half the amount that is specified as safe for head shaving of this particular head.i also recheck the radiator after running the car hard at a radiotor shop where the pressure tested it. nothing moved. radiator collant level remain constant no hose leaks but i may reclamp all hoses over to make sure. so thanks for all the support guys and will keep u all posted if anything changes and advice is needed #alien