Head gasket or cooling sys issue - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

BFever · 03-13-2018, 04:22 PM

I took my 97 Kouki with a s13 sr out for the first time since before winter, and when I got home I noticed I was blowing coolant out of the radatior cap. I plan to check the plugs and run a compression/leak down test in the next few days just to be sure. The car is showing no other blown head gasket systems ie white smoke, oil in coolant etc etc..... I did find that my radatior does have some orangish/rust sediment that sometime comes out so I’m leaning more towards just a radatior the is bad or needs a flush.

I also can’t find and leaks in the coolant system. I’m just looking for some ideas I over looked before I have to start tearing things apart, and spending money.

kyral · 03-13-2018, 07:03 PM

if your rad cap is bad it can do that.
a rad flush is never a bad idea and rust sedmient is totally normal on these poor neglected cars

Kingtal0n · 03-13-2018, 07:09 PM

as the system goes up in temperature the gas expands and pressure goes up. The rad cap seals up to a certain pressure, usually 12-15psi.

Some systems regularly overflow to the overflow when fully warmed, then draw the coolant back when cooling down. However if it is excessive then you should find out what is causing it, too much pressure (overheating or leaking compression) to blow water out the cap, which could also be bad as was mentioned.

anthony_240 · 03-14-2018, 06:56 PM

Might just be a bad radiator cap, or perhaps an overfilled system. Get that rusty crap out first and get yourself a new radiator cap. Cheapest route to begin with

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BFever · 03-15-2018, 01:40 PM

I was thinking all the same things. I picked up a new radiator cap, but I need to wait till it gets warmer to flush out the whole coolant system. I’m thinking that all the above should help.

I did forget to mention the car doesn’t even have a coolant overflow so buy a tank you rig something up myself. I haven’t owned the car very long, so I’ve only been able to drive it a few time to see if anything is wrong with it.

03-13-2018, 04:22 PM	#1
BFever Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Minot, ND Age: 35 Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Head gasket or cooling sys issue I took my 97 Kouki with a s13 sr out for the first time since before winter, and when I got home I noticed I was blowing coolant out of the radatior cap. I plan to check the plugs and run a compression/leak down test in the next few days just to be sure. The car is showing no other blown head gasket systems ie white smoke, oil in coolant etc etc..... I did find that my radatior does have some orangish/rust sediment that sometime comes out so I’m leaning more towards just a radatior the is bad or needs a flush. I also can’t find and leaks in the coolant system. I’m just looking for some ideas I over looked before I have to start tearing things apart, and spending money.

03-13-2018, 07:03 PM	#2
kyral Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: wisconsin Age: 32 Posts: 448 Trader Rating: (7) Rides Gallery: kyral Feedback Score: 7 reviews	if your rad cap is bad it can do that. a rad flush is never a bad idea and rust sedmient is totally normal on these poor neglected cars __________________ The Game you lose haha

03-13-2018, 07:09 PM	#3
Kingtal0n Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Florida Age: 41 Posts: 4,829 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	as the system goes up in temperature the gas expands and pressure goes up. The rad cap seals up to a certain pressure, usually 12-15psi. Some systems regularly overflow to the overflow when fully warmed, then draw the coolant back when cooling down. However if it is excessive then you should find out what is causing it, too much pressure (overheating or leaking compression) to blow water out the cap, which could also be bad as was mentioned.

03-14-2018, 06:56 PM	#4
anthony_240 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Los Angeles Age: 33 Posts: 489 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Might just be a bad radiator cap, or perhaps an overfilled system. Get that rusty crap out first and get yourself a new radiator cap. Cheapest route to begin with Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-15-2018, 01:40 PM	#5
BFever Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Minot, ND Age: 35 Posts: 6 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was thinking all the same things. I picked up a new radiator cap, but I need to wait till it gets warmer to flush out the whole coolant system. I’m thinking that all the above should help. I did forget to mention the car doesn’t even have a coolant overflow so buy a tank you rig something up myself. I haven’t owned the car very long, so I’ve only been able to drive it a few time to see if anything is wrong with it.