iam_immigrant

okay i need help again...

my bro in-law wants to sell his '92 lude and wants me to help him find some places to patch things up cuz hes busy with work and im unemployed...so he let me have it for couple weeks

he says that his car is leaking coolant and has to be refilled every 3-4 days

driving it today and the temp gauge goes from C to 3/4 in like 10 min of driving on street no highway...pull over, little smoke comin out, pop the hood and it smells like fish im like

it also takes the car forever to warm up...

dont know what it could be or what to do

i know it aint a civic but any help, any help, would be super seeing that im TOTALLY lost

thx

labatia

trying flushin out the coolant
if doesnt work check to see if there is any holes
or just take it to a mechanic!

i had that 3/4 problem with my car last week
i filled up the coolant
now its fine..knock on wood..

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

if it was smokin it was prolly steam, and I'd check the hoses first...change the cracked/leaky hose, and flush the system, replace the thermostat, and that's it.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Oh, and coolant smells sweet and yummy, so if it stank like fish it could have been your breath

donesixer

Sweet and Yummy?! Whatchu tawkin bout?
I think it is right up there with differential oil. Bleh...
I think I might hate the smell so much because it usually means the headgasket is gone...kinda like yours is.
Start the car when it is cold, pull the rad cap, check for bubbles.
Good luck...

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

donesixer, diff oil is some vile and nasty smelling crap... I'd rather smell hot garbage than diff oil. Ewwww... sick. Coolant on the other hand smells sweet and it tastes sweet. That's why so many animals die from drinking it, cause it's almost like fruit juice Very toxic and poisonous, so don't try it, just take my word for it. Yeah, the association of a blown head gasket with the smell would be a turn off. Another way to check is to look at your spark plug and oil cap...the oil cap may be milky white, and the spark plug may be steam cleaned to the point of looking brand new in comparison to the other ones.

But donesixer, he did say he was seeing steam escape, so it could be a cracked hose... so check that out first.

donesixer

Oh definitely, look under the car for a puddle then trace the leak from there.
Anytime it has happened to me, there was a white build up on the plugs. Maybe just because I let it go for a while.
I have never tasted the stuff, I'll use Keith's for my alcohol.

iam_immigrant

could have been the poontang i had in the morn






so how do i flush the system
or should i just take it to a mechanic (Altech???) and let the pros handle it

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

Flushing is easy mang... grab a Chilton manual and you'll see. Untwist here, loosen there, run a water hose through, drain again and refill LOL I don't know the particulars for a Prelude, but a Civic has a little **** you untwist to drain coolant. It's at the bottom of the rad.

Punani is always good for breakfast

labatia

its in ur car manual too that came with it

iam_immigrant

thanks but where i park the car is outside and right now it aint that nice out....and i need this fixed/looked at soon....

so i gonna take it in to altech...juss down the street from me...and let the pros take a look....

but thanx for all the help