Steam from passenger side headlight

[D2BBA]

Hi guys,

Wonder if I can have your thoughts on this.  When the car runs to temp I get puffs of white steam from the oil cooler area on the passenger side of my FD Type R (but nothing on drivers side cooler).  The steam smells very very musty.  I\'ve just replaced the AST and think i\'ve maybe pulled a rad pipe, which is dropping coolant onto the oil cooler?

I would have thought it was a split washer bottle tank if it wasn\'t for the musty smell.  I know you sometimes get a bit of evaporation when its wet, but only on one cooler?

Can anyone think of any other ideas?  
Ta
Chris

[ScuttleRX]

I get a bit of steam there when its wet, just from puddles and stuff splashing on the oil cooler.

Think this is what it is as it never happens on a dry road. Interestingly enough I have never noticed it on drivers side...? I\'ll keep an eye on this thread in case something else is amiss

[D2BBA]

Will keep you informed if turn anything up mate.  

In my case the fact it smells v.musty has got me worried that a pipe has come off.  Knew I should have been a little less forceful fitting that AST, and not janked the lower pipe!

[Ricco_04]

You could be on the right track with the musty smell.....My headlight waser jet is broken (Mazda want £55 + VAT for a single item!) If I use the jets it will then proceed to empty the whole 3 liters of the washer fluid - right beneath is the oil cooler!

I guess the musty smell is when the water leaves algie and rots etc - When I refill with water, the next day all the water in the washer bottle smells foul!

If it\'s not that then it could be what ScuttleRX says - and the camber of the road drains the water to the edges of the road anyway.

HTH

[ScuttleRX]

and the camber of the road drains the water to the edges of the road anyway.

ah, thats why its only passenger side then... cheers ricco you have solved a mystery

[Ricco_04]

Woo Hoo!    Thats a first!  

[D2BBA]

Cheers for your thoughts fellas.  I will get the car over a pit tonight and have a look for potential leaks from the washer bottle.

[Ricco_04]

Just in case it is any help - my washer jet leaks from where the water should normally come out (if that makes any sence to you!)  

[D2BBA]

Eureka!!!

Solved the problem.  Looked at it last night at work and had to remove headlight to gain unrestricted access.  Couldn\'t spot anything dropping from the rad.  Looked like alot of water from the roads on the oil cooler (and swaping the various coolant parts over the last week).  Put it all back togehter and filled the washer bottle to check this...and to my surprise it pi$$ed everywhere!

Will get a 2nd had one that doesnt leek!  Car also booked into auto electricans for wednesday to sort my "no fan" problem!  Car could yet go into bodyshop this century!

Cheers for help folks!
Chris

[Ricco_04]

Glad its all sorted mate!  :wiggle