Champagne Test

[Adriansturgess]

Ok if you want to test how Directly the Engine level is effects the AST lift the AST above the engine then remove the cap. What i\'m saying if there is no problem (ie engine seal,Water pump etc) the Level won\'t change and all you are doing by checking it every week is filling the overflow bottle up. if you remove the top the level drops to the same level as the AST then you top it back up to the top so the AST is now over filled that then self levels and the excess if put in the overflow tank, Can you see what i\'m saying?

Once a month is good enough for me, Plus the amount of water drop to set the Buzzer off is stupid low if you put into perspective (how much does the system hold)

OK, think I get what you are saying, kind of makes sense, I think.

[Martiny]

Thanks Grizzly, that info is excellent. It seems I have been doing it wrong, too. So do you think we should just fill up the at the engine cap just once. Then check the level at the bottle only, and get the right level in the bottle?

I have been filling mine up at the engine all the time. When I remove the cap, the level drops, so I have been topping it up to full there. Sometimes it pushes water out the bottle, after I switch off.

I am going to try this:
Fill up at the engine cap.
Now get level correct in bottle.
Periodically check and adjust level at bottle.
Only top up engine if coolant buzzer sounds.

Does this seem correct?

[nikp]

I am going to try this:
Fill up at the engine cap.
Now get level correct in bottle.
Periodically check and adjust level at bottle.
Only top up engine if coolant buzzer sounds.

Does this seem correct?

Yeah, that sounds good. The coolant system will draw what it requires from the overflow tank back into the system when it cools down.

[Cally]

If I have topped up the middle too much and now have the marker in the overflow at full will this go out a wee hole or anything when hot to get back to a normal level?

[Adriansturgess]

Grizzly\'s advice seems pretty sound when you think about it - but the only thing that still troubles me is, how do I find out if my coolant level buzzer actually works? Because I did have a big coolant leak a few months back and lost a lot of coolant and I don\'t remember hearing any buzzer go off.

Questions:

Do all FD\'s have a buzzer?
How can you check it works?
If it doesn\'t work is it easy to fix/replace?

[ds2000]

Its easy,

You can test it when you flush your coolant out, when the system is dry, turn the ignition on (obv don\'t start the car)

Wait a few seconds and that god awful, ear bleeding noise is the buzzer

[onelastpost]

Mine startes from Cold with the water level 10mm from the top of the Neck then slowly Rises until i turn it off and Put the cap back on. There is no Bubbles.

If you run it with the cap on does it....

Make all the Coolant pipes Hard very quickly after Starting  No!

Loose Coolant so the Buzzer goes off buzzer has never gone off!

Fill the Overflow tank (Drivers side Ft Iner wing) i have been filling this and the other two, so I am loosing water here, but that is normal as its full.
If yes then its a Engine rebuild i\'m Afraid and i would say DON\'t Drive it until its been Checked by some one int the Know and OK\'d

But Check there is No Water marks down the Front of the engine (coming from the Water Pump area (Pump Drain holes) a bad Pump seal canb give the same Symptoms but Don\'t hold your Breath becouse you have alot of Bubbles there and it would have to be a Major Pump Problem, But also saying that if the Caps have failed and its Drawing air into the System that may give those symptoms too so a pair of New caps may not be a bad idea.

Also With the cap off (cold oviously) start the car and smell the Bubbles, does it smell of Fuel or Exhaust gasses?

All a bit weird? I will keep an eye on your much coolant she is using over the next few days. Although I have none of the above symptoms that chanpagne test is not normal.

Thanks to everyone for all your help, will keep you all updated.

[Grizzly]

Grizzly\'s advice seems pretty sound when you think about it - but the only thing that still troubles me is, how do I find out if my coolant level buzzer actually works?

Questions:

Do all FD\'s have a buzzer?
How can you check it works?
If it doesn\'t work is it easy to fix/replace?

Yep, There is a Buzzer.

You check it once a Year when you replace the Antifreeze (It will go off a cupple of time until you get all the air out of the System)

TBH they are very Relible (i\'ve never seen one fail) but a guess like every thing there is a Chance possably not Plug\'d back in or damaged during a rebuild maybe?? but you would be very Unlucky if you keep on top of stuff like the Anti freeze and have a Pipe go on you and the Buzzer does\'nt sound (but don\'t forget not all cars have Buzzers becouse its Deamed Ovious when the Engine drops all its water, you will see lots of Steam)

[Grizzly]

All a bit weird? I will keep an eye on your much coolant she is using over the next few days. Although I have none of the above symptoms that chanpagne test is not normal.

Thanks to everyone for all your help, will keep you all updated.

Yes it does sound odd.

I\'d have a really Good look at the Water pump (make sure there are no Water marks) or Ovious leaks

It says in your Vid the water is Brown? is it a Rusty colour? if so it tends to mean there is No Antifreeze in it (It has Anti corrosion additive) this means some thing Steel is Rusting (A plate or Water pump) as i say have a real good look at the Water pump area if the Bearing/seal has failed depending on where its gone it could be drawing air in.

The thing that makes Water seal Faliurs such a Pain is the seal its self does\'nt usaly Go, its the Groove it sits in (so the seal can dislocate making it Bad Symptoms then relocate making it Mild). Depending on Where it goes it can make realy Violent Symptoms or realy Mild, TBH your Symptoms remind me of an Engine i put together that i had problems with the New water seals (they did\'nt seal propperly RA\'s) i have done a Few since and its common to get a bit of a leak when its tested at std Torque but if you Over Torque it a bit it goes, but then if this is a Pro Builder i can\'t imagen this would be the Case, they would test these things before it went in the car.

[onelastpost]

Took the car for a drive this morning about 40 miles, left it all day to cool down. Just got home and checked the coolant, it took about a litre of me!!! Something is up!!

Whats strange is that the over flow tanl has water in it, why didnt this get drawn back into the main water tank?

Its going in on Monday- its a shame cos the weather the last few weeks has been perfect for driving her.

[Adriansturgess]

^^^^That doesn\'t seem to add up does it??....:confused:

[nikp]

If the low level coolant sensor is not plugged into the loom, the buzzer will sound. So, if you\'re not getting that - is the F100 box plugged in?

[Grizzly]

Yeh your Buzzer int Working for a Start, So am i right in saying your engine level is going down and the overflow is going up? or is the water just vanishing?

I know its proberly already been said but you have the caps on the correct way round don\'t you?

Why does it not pull the water back from the Overflow tank? i think that part only works when every thing cools down i belive it uses the vacumm from the water cooling to draw more water in so if there is a leak there is nothing to create the vacumm (But to be Honist i don\'t know alot about that part).

Loosing a Litre of water is quite alot but having seen some bad water seals this is a Mild one if it Turns out to be a Seal. Usaly you can\'t drive at all without it Pushing water out or Blowing hoses/Rad\'s apart.

As i say its not a Good idea to drive it until its been looked at.

[Cally]

moved.......

[Adriansturgess]

^^^^^to here......

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29170