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*-Losing Coolant- Hi guys, so I've just bought my first 2004 rx8. 68k miles on the body. When I bought it from the dealership they had just installed a new rebuilt engine from OJ rotors out of Texas and many other things such as an upgraded starter, new battery, etc... They were in the process of troubleshooting one issue they were having with a check engine light throwing codes for misfire at about 4-4.5k rpms. And they were certain they narrowed it to the intake valve sticking and being gunked up from the prieviously blown engine. Also they said the coolant light had been coming on but they knew there weren't any leaks and had topped it off but didn't help so they assumed faulty sensor. I've owned it for 2 weeks now and have put 2 jugs of premix coolant in with another add today. I see no puddles or visible leaks I can notice looking around so far. It has been rough to start 3 times after the 2nd time I checked the oil and was just below the low line so assumed might be for compression, but then had happen once after adding oil also, but overall has been idling fine and running normal besides. The engine has about 1600 miles on it at the moment and the mechanic at the dealership did the break in of the new engine himself and took it as his own car to do so. With everything I've been researching is it possible the coolant seals are already bad? Very worried.
Exactly how much coolant do you lose? Say you went for a drive today. What's the coolant level the next morning? When you start your car up in the morning, do you see white smoke from the exhaust? Does it stumble and then smoothen out after a few seconds?
Like Dannobre said, pressure test the cooling system. That's the only way to know for sure.
I've definitely come to the conclusion I need to pressure test to know for sure. Have just been hoping for some hope since it typically shouldn't be an issue with a fresh engine. What I've noticed is I seem to lose more coolant the more I drive it. I work 12 hour night shifts and have mainly only driven to work and back about 25 minutes away and somewhere to eat at lunch about 10 minutes both to there and back. On my nights off usually to maybe the gas station and back a couple blocks away. I always warm it up for about 10 minutes till at running temp before driving. I bought it about 2 weeks ago roughly 1 hour 45 minutes away and drove it home then worked for the next 2 nights then I had 3 off. Then went to start for work the next day and soon as I pulled out of my alley temp started raising above normal so turned around and grabbed coolant I had at my house. Dumped 1/3 of a jug in. Then stopped to buy more. Made it through work that night and the next day added 2/3 of the new jug to bring resevoir up to to about the 1/2 way mark while cold and near top while warmed up. Added the other 1/3 of the jug at the end of that night at work when I shouldn't have because while warming up to leave work it just ended up going out the overflow. The next week for roughly the next four days it held steady while I worked 2 then had off 2 days at both cooled off levels and after running, then I didn't check on the weekend I worked and on the last of my set of 3 nights when I went to lunch and was heading back I noticed the temp gauge bounce from normal to about 4/5 of the way to hot then back to normal till I was back for about 10 minutes. Then made it's last add and took about half a jug of coolant. And now just had last night off and it appears to be at the same level. If that's not too confusing, I hope.
That's a lot of coolant you're losing! You sure you don't see any coolant puddles under the car? The temp needle bouncing from the middle to the 3/4 mark means the coolant temp was around 235F. When it drops below 235F the needle goes back to the middle. 236F and it goes all the way to the 3/4 position again. It's not a linear gauge.
The temp needle moving is dangerous. I wouldn't drive it like that. Get it pressure tested ASAP.
You said coolant came out of the overflow horse. You think that's what's happening every time you drive?
Also there is smoke when I start up for the first couple seconds then fades, not a big cloud. It'll start up at the higher starting rpm and bounce slightly in that area for a second or two then hold and slowly come down as it heats up to normal running idle speed. I've looked around on the ground and haven't seen any puddles on the pavement when I'm at work or the dirt alley I park on at home. Coming out of the overflow hose I think was just the one time for overfilling while cold then when warmed up and the level raised and pushed the excess out. It's not happened during any other start up. Unless it's doing it while driving or something and I'm missing it. The temp needle holds firm when the coolant is holding a good level just starts moving once it starts to get below a certain point.
You need a coolant system pressure test done or you need to send a sample of oil in to be tested for the presence of coolant. But it doesn't look good based on what you have stated.
OJ's has an okay rep but I have always been skeptical of a $2500 rebuild. And testing the coolant seals after assembly is one step many don't bother with.
How much does the needle bounce when you start it up? The RPM going up as soon as you start it and coming down as the engine warms up is normal. Don't worry about it
The cheapest is to just take it to a shop and get it pressure tested. They should do it for free.
But yes, like 9K said, it's pointing towards a coolant seal...
UPDATE: I've been in contact with the dealership. They definitely want it looked at and get it pressure tested. They said they have a couple ideas of where it might be leaking, but it is an awful lot of coolant I've added so far so if it is getting in the combustion chamber and I didn't set off the overheat sensor the engine would be covered under OJ's warranty. Just hoping the couple times I saw my needle climbing up for temp it didn't set it off if this is the case. So either have to find a way to get it to them about 1hr 45mins away or take to another certified mechanic and they want to walk them through everything.
10-12-2015, 04:36 AM
