Reply With QuoteDon't forget radiator...
Best thing to do is to pressure test the system and look for leaks. In the meantime you can run your hand over the hoses & look for either wetness or crusty dried antifreeze remains.
RJ
Possible sources of coolant loss.
The Miata overheated yesterday on my wife at lunch. I took my trailer and pickup up the car to avoid any possible issues. Pulled the cap and could not see collant in the radiator. Got it home and it took 3/4 a gallon of distilled water to fill the radiator back up. The car ran fine after filing it up and had no over heating problems. I checked the level a bout a month ago and it was fine. Now the question:
What are the possible sources of the leak and probability of each to start trouble shooting. Here is what I have thought of so far:
1) Radiator Cap
2) hoses
3) water pump (153K on the car)
4) god forbid a cracked head.
Don't forget radiator...
Best thing to do is to pressure test the system and look for leaks. In the meantime you can run your hand over the hoses & look for either wetness or crusty dried antifreeze remains.
RJ
Daily Driver: 2013 Club edition in Pearl White Mica
Lightness? What's that? I drive a PRHT!
It's cheap... if it is more than a year old, replace it regardless.Originally Posted by HudsonHawk
I had 3 spring leaks over a 3 month period at 110k miles. If they are original, replace them all... there are 9 on a 1.6 car... not sure of the 1.8. (OK, I bought them all, but only replaced 8. I am convinced that one of them 1 is not replaceable without pulling the intake manifold.)2) hosesIs it original? Most tend to die by 150k.3) water pump (153K on the car)Lets hope not.4) god forbid a cracked head.
- heater hoses
- radiator
(those are the two places where I've sprung leaks)
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
Todd & I are pretty close to you... I'm up in Lewisville...
If you need another set of eyes on it just let me know.
RJ
Daily Driver: 2013 Club edition in Pearl White Mica
Lightness? What's that? I drive a PRHT!
No idea about the age of the water pump we bought the car with 143K on it. It appeared to be well maintained but I have no actual maintenance records to back that up.
There is some green crusty residue on the upper hose but unable to determine if its a cap or hose leak. As it is right there by the cap. Or it is possible it could have been thrown off a belt or fan. Very hard to determine. Going to drive it home this afternoon and pop the hood to see if I can find anything. Let the wife take my truck so she would not be stranded if anything happened.
Get a new radiator cap for it. It's cheap and can't hurt even if it's not the source of the leak.
Also the thermostat housing. On my car also, I had a non oem metal radiator. The bottom of the rad where it sits in the car had started to leak aswell.
Little update. Drove over and got a new radiator cap (have not put it on yet) when I got back to the office and parked I heard a boiling sound. Opened the hood and coolant was boiling into the overflow reservoir. The temp briefly went past the center mark on the drive back to the office then cooled back down to just below center before I parked it. Im gonna put the new cap on before I leave the office and see what its like when I get home.
Sounds like it's gonna be a lot better...
I don't remember where I read it, but, for an NA, it was better to stick with a stock cap rather than the higher psi cap.
Only if I could find that...
Easier to assess as you get more information.....I did have my reservoir spring a leak on me. Still holding water by using some sort contact cement.
Smile
93' LE #1136 - FM II
250k miles
That looks like it was the problem. I am driving it again today and will see after work. But the old cap was in BAD shape.
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