quick question

D_Train · 03-20-2007, 02:43 AM

My coolant light went on. The overflow tank was empty. I filled it up. The light went off. I checked for signs of BHG (steam from tailpipe, smell from vents, etc. am showing none). Should I stop driving immediately and get my car checked out or am I ok?

damdog05 · 03-20-2007, 11:15 PM

first of, check your hoses for leaks. upper and lower radiator, then there at least one(maybe 2?) behind the engine, near the fire wall. and anywhere else that a coolant hose runs. if nothing turns up have a compression test done. thatll let you know if its a bhg. start there

IHateHacks · 03-21-2007, 01:14 AM

Not to sound like a d!ck but a compression test will not determine if you have a blown head gasket. My compression tested at 180psi across the board with no more than 7psi difference between them yet I still had a BHG. A block test is the only thing that can 100% guarantee that your head gasket is good or not. My block test turned from blue to green. Plus its alot simpler to do a block test, all you have to do is take the radiator cap off and drain a few quarts of coolant via the radiator drain plug. Compression test, you have to remove all the spark plugs which means removing all of the stuff on top of the spark plugs, and more than likely your spark plugs will be covered in a couple inches of oil so you will have to deal with that mess and then disable the fuel pump. Because if fuel is being sprayed into the combustion chamber while you are testing compression, it will throw off the readings.

On the intake manifold side there are 2 coolant lines under the throttle body. 1 goes from the Throttle body to the water by pass pipe and 1 goes from the lower intake manifold to the ISC valve. Then there is one that goes from the throttle body to the ISC valve. On the exhaust manifold side there's a coolant line that goes from the bottom of the water outlet housing to the water by pass pipe and theres one that goes from the water by pass pipe to the heater union. Then there are the 2 rubber turbo lines that like to leak if they are original 20 year old hoses. Then in the back of the engine the heater core outlet is on the intake manifold side and attaches to (yep you guessed it) the water by pass pipe and the heater core inlet goes from the heater union to the valve on the firewall to the heater core.

damdog05 · 03-21-2007, 01:16 AM

thats good to know. thanks. you might want to follow his advice on the block test

D_Train · 03-21-2007, 02:41 AM

Thanks guys! I'll keep you posted and post some pics.

03-20-2007, 02:43 AM	#1
D_Train 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 214	quick question My coolant light went on. The overflow tank was empty. I filled it up. The light went off. I checked for signs of BHG (steam from tailpipe, smell from vents, etc. am showing none). Should I stop driving immediately and get my car checked out or am I ok?

03-20-2007, 11:15 PM	#2
damdog05 12psi boost Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 250	first of, check your hoses for leaks. upper and lower radiator, then there at least one(maybe 2?) behind the engine, near the fire wall. and anywhere else that a coolant hose runs. if nothing turns up have a compression test done. thatll let you know if its a bhg. start there __________________ My cars: 85 Trans Am- Ehhh- Gone 83 Rx7- Much Better- Gone 86.5 Supra- Love- Not Gone

03-21-2007, 01:14 AM	#3
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	Not to sound like a d!ck but a compression test will not determine if you have a blown head gasket. My compression tested at 180psi across the board with no more than 7psi difference between them yet I still had a BHG. A block test is the only thing that can 100% guarantee that your head gasket is good or not. My block test turned from blue to green. Plus its alot simpler to do a block test, all you have to do is take the radiator cap off and drain a few quarts of coolant via the radiator drain plug. Compression test, you have to remove all the spark plugs which means removing all of the stuff on top of the spark plugs, and more than likely your spark plugs will be covered in a couple inches of oil so you will have to deal with that mess and then disable the fuel pump. Because if fuel is being sprayed into the combustion chamber while you are testing compression, it will throw off the readings. On the intake manifold side there are 2 coolant lines under the throttle body. 1 goes from the Throttle body to the water by pass pipe and 1 goes from the lower intake manifold to the ISC valve. Then there is one that goes from the throttle body to the ISC valve. On the exhaust manifold side there's a coolant line that goes from the bottom of the water outlet housing to the water by pass pipe and theres one that goes from the water by pass pipe to the heater union. Then there are the 2 rubber turbo lines that like to leak if they are original 20 year old hoses. Then in the back of the engine the heater core outlet is on the intake manifold side and attaches to (yep you guessed it) the water by pass pipe and the heater core inlet goes from the heater union to the valve on the firewall to the heater core. Last edited by IHateHacks; 03-21-2007 at 01:23 AM.

03-21-2007, 01:16 AM	#4
damdog05 12psi boost Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 250	thats good to know. thanks. you might want to follow his advice on the block test __________________ My cars: 85 Trans Am- Ehhh- Gone 83 Rx7- Much Better- Gone 86.5 Supra- Love- Not Gone

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03-21-2007, 02:41 AM	#5
D_Train 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 214	Thanks guys! I'll keep you posted and post some pics.