SleepyEG

I'm pretty sure whats wrong with it
So im just tryin to see what other opinions are.
Maybe i couldve missed something


Heres the situation:


Stock d15 engine
About 2 days ago i was checkin my oil. then noticed the antifreeze overflow tank had been well... overflowing. it was absolutely full.
So i didnt really think much of it
I just emptied a quite a bit of it out
Then checked the level of the fluid in the rad And it was full.

So im out tonite. temp gauge just went nuts outta no where
Strong smell of antifreeze
So i turn the heat up full blast, etc. Temp gauge cools down a bit

I drive it softly home
No leaks or anything under the hood.

Im thinking my t-stat just ate ****.

Anyone else got any ideas??

chris_si98

was the coolant bubbling?

Turn the car on.. open the rad cap check to see how the coolant smell (if you smell combustion gases) and to see if its bubbling.

A bad t-stat doesn't cause an overflow of coolant. But an air-lock does.

SleepyEG

Hm ill check that in a bit
since i did just get home
i dont wanna be openin that cap while its still under pressure

imported_Cablerat

Most t-stat are built fail-safe so, if anything your car would run extra cold if the t-stat failed.

I would do what Chris says as a starting point.

SleepyEG

Well some more info

Ive never replaced the t-stat on the car since ive gotten it
It had 140k when i bought it. not its up to 180k.
And it only overflowed that one time the other day.

But im gonna see if it bubbles at all, and whatnot

and ill get back to ya

imported_Cablerat

My GF EG was bought @ like 140K, it's now over 270K 5 years later.. Never touched the T-STAT.

SleepyEG

So i just go to start it. Because i had to move it infront of my garage.
Bogged for a good 5 seconds. almost like it was struggling to stay running.

If I pull the spark plugs, what kind of condition would they be in if its telling me that coolant is leaking into the cylinder head?
I know a slight white color is supposed to be good.

imported_Cablerat

Not sure about the condition. Generally if you have coolant burning you'll notice WHITE smoke out the tail pipe.

Need to reference a manual to get that. Maybe someone else will know.

SleepyEG

Yeah i know about the white smoke. its just kinda hard to tell because it is kinda chilly outside... and plus exhaust. its like taking a breath out when ur in winter. it all looks the same to me

SleepyEG

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/engine/plugs.html

i found this... but doesnt show about coolant

chris_si98

Pull your plugs.. if they are white and smell sweet you have a HG problem.

But do what I said man.. smell the coolant when the car is running and check for bubbling.

cee_mon

If you are worried about the coolant getting all hot, let the car cool off and then take off the rad cap. Restart the car until it gets up to normal temp. Problem solved.

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

IMO the coolant overflow bubbling and overflowing is usually a sign of a headgasket problem (on a honda) along with the crappy running and white smoke you are seeing.

SleepyEG

after just seein my plugs... im starting to lean towards my headgasket...

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

are the plugs super super white?

SleepyEG

#4 looks clean as hell
#3 looked brownish/white
#2 had wet oil on it
#1 looked the same as #3

chris_si98

Normally if you are burning coolant the plug(s) in the faulty cylinders are pretty whire, sometimes even have deposits on them. And smell very sweet(burnt coolant).


edit: let it run for a good while. Shut it off, pull the plugs (yes they'll be damn hot) and smell them.

SleepyEG

update:


Started it to operating temp
while pullin on throttle slight bubbles would pop up in the overflow tank
Upper rad hose is warm/hot
Lower rad hose is alot cooler
While running, motor stayed at normal temp. Didnt overheat
Bogged once out of 3 times starting
Sparkplugs didnt smell sweet.
Exhaust isnt white and just smells normal
Fan didnt click on at all during the whole 20 minutes i had it running

imported_Cablerat

Lower rad hose stays cold until the T-Stat opens up to cool down the coolant.

I'd take it for a drive and then let it idle. If it's cold enough, the car will take very long to get the t-stat and fan to trigger.

SleepyEG

ok so i went out
picked up a thermostat and gasket and some Peak coolant
Replaced the t-stat and did a whole flush. put coolant in my overflow just inbetween min and max.
Everything is fine at this point.
Start it up
have it idling for 20 minutes. all levels are good
Take the car out for a good 30-40 minute drive.
No overheating or anything
all good temps. But i still didnt notice my fan kickin on. that might be because it might need more time to start up. or that the switch is gone also

I get home
Checked levels. theyre all good. rad level is good
Overflow is just above Max.

Im gonna take it out later for a longer drive to make sure everything is good