Mazda Rotary Club

Cars by Model Type => 3rd generation RX-7's => Topic started by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 02:31:45 PM

Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 02:31:45 PM
Is it normal to have to fill up abit every time you check?
As I fill it I can see it go down and not stay at cap level? I can\'t see any leaks so jut wondering, thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: R1Dude on May 27, 2012, 02:41:57 PM
Mine does the same dude, dont worry about it unless your overheating and water is pouring out the expansion tank :)
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 02:57:34 PM
Only heats to around 92, 93 after I stamp my foot a few times lol.  No real water loss but is it ok to keep topping up with tap/ bottled water?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: m1tch on May 27, 2012, 04:19:03 PM
Have you checked the seal on the AST etc? sometimes the seal gets old and doesn\'t fully seal meaning that when it gets up to temperature the extra pressure can mean it leaks slightly.
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 04:52:07 PM
Yea seals fine.  Just went to check the water level again and it goes around an inch lower than the small hole.  ?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 27, 2012, 05:12:13 PM
I just got a new rad cap as mine was passing when hot and under pressure....spring was weak now i dont loose any atall and level always the same .
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 05:17:21 PM
Hmm, Can you point me to a decent one.  May aswell try it.. Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 27, 2012, 05:20:41 PM
330596833156 ebay demon motor sport.......and a mk1 mx5 is identical becsaue i have 1 and swapped for a few days...    and also make sure cap is fitted to right chamber... ive done that by mistake in the past....... cap no spring to metal 1 sprung cap to plastic 1. !
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 05:32:59 PM
Coolio, so to confirm. That is not for ast but for the other, lol.  Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 27, 2012, 06:11:11 PM
Yes mate. easily mixed up as they both fit on each other and then you will lose coolant....I dun it !
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 27, 2012, 06:47:31 PM
Right, purchased...
  Just checked mine and it must be standard as its just the cap and a rubber seal inside.

Hopefully it sorts it but if not what would I be looking at then? As thinking of it, I have had to put quite abit in altogether and as said I can\'t see any signs of leaking?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: yehreally on May 27, 2012, 07:08:03 PM
noted that cap on ebay is 1.3bar :o sure I read somewhere 0.9bar is better for the FD :confused:?

Quote from: GrimR33per;824599Right, purchased...
  Just checked mine and it must be standard as its just the cap and a rubber seal inside.

Hopefully it sorts it but if not what would I be looking at then? As thinking of it, I have had to put quite abit in altogether and as said I can\'t see any signs of leaking?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 27, 2012, 07:12:52 PM
I got it on mine no problems, solved my disappearing coolant....
Yours could be loads of things, standard rad?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 27, 2012, 10:11:59 PM
Try not putting water in and firing it up from cold, if the buzzer goes off then shut off and top up. It doesn\'t always sit at the top of the neck but sucks coolant in from the overflow tank.

Have you changed coolant recently ? It could just be burping the air out of the system.

Just keep an eye on it !

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 04:02:33 PM
Took to work today and buzzer went off when I got in the car so had to top up quite abit. Ast was very low also..  How low is the coolant buzzer??!

Ot home now so im going to have a nosey round.  W temp at 85
I cant see any puddles as of yet so will wait till water goes over 100..

Any suggestions though?  It went back into pip as the water pipe round bulk head split and he\'s put a hose round it which I\'ll try and look at as I can\'t see it..  

It shouldn\'t be using the amount I\'ve had too put in that\'s for sure
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 28, 2012, 05:10:06 PM
Your loosing fair bit of water mate ......what rad are using if original id be looking for darker patch on the rad particularly corner and bottom ....check the tray also. Hard to see if you still got he aircon condenser in there. Get her hot and look for steam vapours....

Also rad cap remove pipe on outside of little hole if its passing (rad cap) you\'ll have coolant in there..... top up with water for now whilst trying to identify leak but remember to add coolant before the winter.

If you fire up and buzzer goes off. hold rpm at 4000 and switch off....should not flood then.
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 05:21:11 PM
Had a look and can\'t find a drop of water anywhere?

Any ideas?

What coolant is the best one as I may need to top it up with that rather than water all the time.  The one I have looks yellow green?  

Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 05:23:43 PM
Yes it\'s a standard rad....  I\'m stumped...... Ive checked every pipe i can see, and undertray and cant see a drop anywhere.  It must be vapour?


Other than that i think the cars running ok. :D   Bludy quick too considering shes got standardish bhp...
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: boosted on May 28, 2012, 06:15:17 PM
I\'m thinking rad cap mate.....is it easy to compress the spring?  

you get blue or red so you must have blue coolant.

If rad cap dont sort suggest pressure test next.

There quick and lots of revs to play with!!:3gears-rh  ....i\'d stay out of boost for the mo though!
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 07:02:27 PM
There\'s only a spring on the ast ?   It\'s easy to compress but with abit of pressure..  

I\'ve asked pip if he has any replacement caps for sale I can try...  Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 07:21:38 PM
I think i may have found the problem.

As i compressed the AST spring i noticed alot of up and down movement from the inner circle/clasp on the top side.. Lifted the sticker and it has evidence of a vapour leak.. Its clean on one side as i wiped my thumb across it, and although you cant really tell on the picture, the underside of the sticker has tiny droplets on it

Could i really loose that much water as vapour? Could this be my problem?

Pics anyways..

(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/vtec_01/ebe97d85.jpg)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/vtec_01/c1521c0c.jpg)

Where can i get a replacement ast cap? Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: Arnie_O on May 28, 2012, 07:31:19 PM
cant see it mentioned here but i know with the RX8 i was advised not to use Tap water to top up with as its corrosive to aluminium, i would have thought this to be the same for the older rotary engines however i may get flames not for being a fool.
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 07:36:46 PM
Pip said it was ok to do so in small amounts...  plus its more bottled water ive used, lol..  once ive found my leak ill ask pip if its worth doing another coolant change..

i guess Ebay is the only place to get distilled?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 28, 2012, 07:42:08 PM
Depends where you live in the UK, I\'ve always used tap water ! I live in a soft water area though.

Have you got a stock ast or after market one ?

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 28, 2012, 07:49:09 PM
Stock plastic one..  Thanks
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 28, 2012, 07:53:34 PM
They are classed as a weak point in the system.

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: Arnie_O on May 28, 2012, 08:11:54 PM
Halfauds or any motor factors should stock distiller water and it shouldn\'t brake the bank
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 31, 2012, 09:43:02 PM
Right, pip hasnt answered my emails so has anyone got a spare ast cap?

Would i loose alot of water if the ast was letting water/steam out the top?

This much after a 40ish mile drive.????  Thanks

(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/vtec_01/cb63f38c.jpg)
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n165/vtec_01/5897ebd7.jpg)
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 31, 2012, 10:17:30 PM
Where about are you in the uk ? I can stick a full ast in the post.

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on May 31, 2012, 10:19:19 PM
In Blackpool mate, i work in preston also :)  Thanks mate

Do you reckon i could loose that much due to ast cap?
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 31, 2012, 10:22:59 PM
Your more than welcome to pop round for it on the way home. I\'m in Penwortham :D

What is your email address ?

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on May 31, 2012, 10:24:21 PM
If the seal is duff then anything is possible. Only other thing to check is the water pump isn\'t leaking. The waterpump body leaks to show the bearing is starting to die.

Shaun
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: GrimR33per on June 04, 2012, 04:47:27 PM
Coolio... Thanks Shaun... Ive sorted it now.. Turned out the rad cap was F**ked..  been driving about a few times and no water loss...

Took it out today and it dropped its coolant everywhere again.. FFS...

Turned out Pip and his boys made an amateur mistake of not putting the hose clip on on a coolant hose from the engine, was a :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored: to put on in a country lane.. *%$£, luckily i had a few bottles of water in the boot and thanks to mazda for the grips, lol.....

So need some new coolant now..
Title: Water/coolant usage?
Post by: shaunwil on June 04, 2012, 05:49:54 PM
Good news :D

Its a very easy mistake to do, done it myself on a couple of occasions :p

Shaun