Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: B9 KLF on May 23, 2004, 08:41:12 PM

Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on May 23, 2004, 08:41:12 PM
Hi guys- new to the site but the same \'ol problem.
I have been noticing the coolant level reducing and now there is a scum in the oil filler neck :( . On a rotary engine which gasket might that be and is it drivable very far to get it fixed. Engine runs fine and is not getting hot- if I top up the water.

Anyone know the nearest specialist to Beckenham Kent?
The car is a \'94 series 3 Type R unmodded.
Thanks
Keith
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: bnaellis on May 23, 2004, 08:46:33 PM
That sounds like water seals have gone and engine rebuild is needed to rectify.

rgds
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: Andyp on May 23, 2004, 09:05:22 PM
ooh I know Beckenham :D

if ya in Kent ya closest options are to go to Rotechnics in Reading or Re:Worx in Portsmouth.

Hopefully it\'ll turn out to be something simple like a leak! best of luck!
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on May 23, 2004, 09:33:45 PM
Engine rebuild !!! oh well. Better start saving.:eek:

Keith
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: Andyp on May 23, 2004, 09:40:08 PM
well get it checked out before you do anything mate :)

That mayo could be caused by the change in weather and there could be a leaky hose causing ya coolant to drop (best case senario) which could cost ya about 50p to fix :)

best to get someone to look at it!
Title: Coolant
Post by: PCCarter on May 24, 2004, 02:48:38 PM
My service garage told me that my engine was F---KED after flushing the rad and the cooling system and replacing the thermostat.  Turns out after speaking to God (Carl at Hayward Rotary) that the garage had put the filler and pressure caps on the wrong way round.  If you  have no signs of leakage this might be your problem as the wrong filler cap will not hold the pressure.

Also if they are on the right way round, might be worth changing anyway.

Well worth checking first.

Good luck

Paul
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: iaint on May 24, 2004, 03:43:46 PM
One way to see if ther water seals are on their way out is to run the engine without the main filler cap on (do this from cold) - if you\'re getting bubbling in the neck then it\'s most likely exhaust gasses being forced through the seals and into the system.

I had a similar sounding coolant problem and it was the dreaded seal failure but it could be something else (hopefully).

Iain
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on May 24, 2004, 11:15:00 PM
OK lets start by ticking the probables off the list and I\'ll let you know.
Thanks for the support:cheers

Keith
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: fc3sPAT on May 25, 2004, 01:22:39 AM
Hey crusher! Beckenham heh?? well i am down the road from you at Catford, i drive a FC3S TII,
anyhow, i have recently paid a visit to a garage down at wimbledon, not far at all compared to reading or portsmouth, but whilst i was there i saw a 3rd gen petting rolled in for water seals and the like, and i think he also mentioned a rebuild too, so i guess these guys know their stuff for other REX owners to be taking their car there for rebuild and waters seals,
give me a reply if you want to know more about this place as it maybe worth getting them to have a look, they dont charge too dear either, and i have heard they can do a lot more then just rebuilds and problem rectifying, large turbo?? NOS??:D

Patrick
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: iaint on May 25, 2004, 08:39:41 AM
...and I\'m just down the road from the both of you in Brockley/St Johns.  It\'s getting rotary-crowded down here!

Iain
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on May 25, 2004, 11:16:32 PM
Another contact in Wimbledon would be very useful.  Out of choice I would go to Jeff at Portsmouth but I don\'t know whether the journey would be too much. The car feels fine and as long as I top up the water so it may be ok for the trip.

South London meet comin up soon then :wave

Thanks

Keith
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: fc3sPAT on May 25, 2004, 11:35:10 PM
well i should be going down to the mentioned garage after thursday, need to get a bit of work done myself, so i get some details and post it here for ya, then you can decide whether or not you will use them,

South London meet??? HOHOHO, cool cool, :wave
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: iaint on June 01, 2004, 11:44:43 AM
There\'s always the Dartford meet (2nd tuesday in the month) not too far from Catford/Beckenham...

Iain
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on June 01, 2004, 10:04:32 PM
re: Dartford meet; thanks iaint but unfortunately I am double booked on Tuesdays - maybe in the summer.

re: where\'s all the coolant gone; the mayo in the filler neck would appear to be condensation since it occured only after the car was put away wet into the garage one evening and has not come back. The coolant loss does not seem to have occured again either and on the run up to Rotorstock she performed extremely well.

However on the way back from Rotorstock the oil pressure went down to 2 for five miles before suddenly returning to it\'s usual 7.(who the hell was in charge of the quality control of the guages for Efini?)

Keith :rollin
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: moakesr on June 01, 2004, 10:07:18 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Crusher

However on the way back from Rotorstock the oil pressure went down to 2 for five miles before suddenly returning to it\'s usual 7.(who the hell was in charge of the quality control of the guages for Efini?)

Keith :rollin [/B]

That will be the sender unit, not too bad to change, but 80 odd quid for a new one :eek:

Richard
Title: Where\'s all the coolant gone?
Post by: B9 KLF on June 01, 2004, 11:58:05 PM
Oh well more expense, but after an excellant day on Monday it all seems worth it
Well done Clive and the devoted team effort.



Keith:wiggle