Coolant Problem. Any advice?

[[email protected]]

Evo 6 GSR. Bought it recently fresh import.

Recently noticed the water in the expansion tank lower than previous times. Topped it up to the max level. I have a coolant smell from under the bonnet and have smoke coming up from right hand side of engine bay. I have been advised to change rad cap as these can cause problems, what I don't get is as it does it on idle when I have bonnet up and nothing coming out the cap. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[marc9584]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Evo 6 GSR. Bought it recently fresh import.

Recently noticed the water in the expansion tank lower than previous times. Topped it up to the max level. I have a coolant smell from under the bonnet and have smoke coming up from right hand side of engine bay. I have been advised to change rad cap as these can cause problems, what I don't get is as it does it on idle when I have bonnet up and nothing coming out the cap. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Common problem with the little white expansion tank, it sorts its own level out dont fill it up just make sure the radiator level never drops and the temp gauge doesnt start moving up for no reason. my 6 does exactly the same thing if i fill the white tank it spits it out the overflow for no reason but radiator always stays brimmed. If the coolant level is changing in the radiator then you have an issue somewhere.

[[email protected]]

What about the white smoke and smell of coolant. It comes from down the right hand side when looking at the front from outside the car. I can see any leaks, not sure if the rad cap is leaking and the water running down and hitting somethings g hot which is causing the smoke? When would the rad cap leak?

[marc9584]

[[email protected];5635690]What about the white smoke and smell of coolant. It comes from down the right hand side when looking at the front from outside the car. I can see any leaks, not sure if the rad cap is leaking and the water running down and hitting somethings g hot which is causing the smoke? When would the rad cap leak?[/QUO

Ah sorry thought you meant the leak was from the header tank. In that case yes the rad cap could well be faulty or the rad itself may have a small leak how much coolant is it loosing?

[tracker]

Have you checked all the hoses? Get a good look at the hoses on that side of the engine, especially the joints

[[email protected]]

It's not losing a lot, I've checked the radiator a few times and it's always been full, just the expansion tank seems to drop but I seen it go back up once or twice, I have read this is ment to happen but just with the smoke I'm getting thrown off. Also does it take a bit of time for both rad pipes to come to same temp roughly?

[marc9584]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

It's not losing a lot, I've checked the radiator a few times and it's always been full, just the expansion tank seems to drop but I seen it go back up once or twice, I have read this is ment to happen but just with the smoke I'm getting thrown off. Also does it take a bit of time for both rad pipes to come to same temp roughly?

one of the hoses wont get warm until the thermostat opens up, i would just run it up to temp wait for the fan to cut in and out then switch it off then look for steam or smells

[foreskin fred]

That's pretty much normal with an old engine.

Retorquing the head will probably fix it.

[Mr Ralliart]

What pressure cap is it?

[[email protected]]

It's some Japanese thing, doesn't look like a very good one. I have ordered a blitz one. Will try that. Do use think it is safe to run it as normal and just keep an eye on temp?

[Mr Ralliart]

Just make sure it's 1.1 bar if you are using the factory radiator.

[wuldo]

I had an issue with the water pump inlet pipe being completely corroded with my 7 so maybe that i understand this is becoming more and more common

[thetyrant]

Could be nothing, in my experience if you fill expansion tank much above minimum when cold then when hot it blows a little out breather which is probably your smell of coolant, try it on minimum level and see if problem stops.

Ian

[[email protected]]

There is white smoke coming from under bonnet, right hand side, can't see where it is coming from yet. Can anyone kind of confirm my head gasket is not away? That's my biggest worry lol

[Mr Ralliart]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Can anyone kind of confirm my head gasket is not away?

Bit of a challenge to confirm that on the internet.
Is the car down on power? Idling funny? Is the coolant a funny colour or got oil in it? If any of these then there is a chance the head gasket is cactus, if all of them then it is most likely, but you really should take it to a garage to be checked properly instead of trying to guess and driving it to try and diagnose risking doing damage (see way too much of that on here).