Thread: VVL coolant boiling over

April 18, 2013 UPDATE. IT'S ALIVE

Thread: http://www.sr20-forum.com/general-sr20/66920-injector-noise-after-new-head-gasket-install-b13-ve.html#post898154



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March 10, 2013 UPDATE:

It was the head gasket, as some of you correctly suggest. We took the opportunity to do a lot of upgrades. Please check page 2 for before and after photos and more information.





This was the original post:

start with the simple stuff....the thermostat. then maybe the h/g? if you suspect the h/g the overflow bottle can be tested for hydrocarbons

check the thermostat. Check the oil for signs of coolant. Burp the cooling system and put some anti -freeze in. Use the anti freeze to get the air pockets out if any. Its also a good idea to run anti-freeze in a colder climate. I run a different ratio for summer vs winter.

I suspect you have blown the head gasket, but you can check the other aspects of the cooling system first

Peace

I wouldn't be surprised if the hg went. dont worry its happened to most of us here.

Start simple. Check the dipstick and see how the oil looks. Try bleeding any air out. If all else fails could be a headgasket.

Just changed the oil and it looks good, i mean i didnt put it under a micrscope but I didnt see any coolant in the collector pan..

Looks like hg

Chang the thermostat and bleed the cooling system first. If that doesn't help, it's the hg. Make sure your fan works also

There is a pretty easy way to tell what it is before doing anything. Fill up the coolant and squeeze the lower hose to burp the air from the system and leave the radiator cap open. Start the car. If the coolant starts bubbling up then its most definitely the headgasket. If it doesnt bubble and just sits there and as the motor warms it up it just keeps rising and rising and then eventually starts to just boil out then its a good sign that the thermostat isnt opening, also your lower radiator hose will stay cold and the upper hose will get hot. If the thermostat opens you should actually see coolant flowing through the radiator when the t-stat opens. If you dont then yeah, good sign the thermostat is stuck closed.

Now if it flows and still overheats youll probably see it getting foamy with air and again good sign the HG is gone.

You can do this test before just guessing what the hell it is. Pretty simple mechanics diagnostics, no need to play parts changer until something fixes it.