Radiator Problems, maybe a hose...i'm not sure - Hyundai Performance Forums

valusek · 06-12-2006, 11:32 PM

Today I was driving down the road when all of a sudden I started smelling antifreeze. I had seen a car on the side of the road so I thought that it was coming from it, but when I looked down my temp gauge was redlined. Luckily I was right at my place so I pulled in, popped the hood and looked in and the only thing that I could really see wrong was that the hose that comes out of my reserve tank was blowing steam. But I couldn't see anything leaking specifically. Once I had let it sit for a little while I did a better inspection and I saw a small puddle of coolant on top of the transmission. I refilled the radiator and let it run for a while to see if I could find the leak but I can't find anything, I've felt around on all 3 hoses and none seemed to have any cuts/cracks. I drove it for a little while and it seemed to be running fine. I'm just not wanting to be driving around and get stuck somewhere where I don't have anything to fix it with.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jed118 · 06-14-2006, 01:41 AM

Top of the tranny? That probably leaked down from the thermostat housing. Check the gaskets around there, actually, just spend the $5 and buy a new thermostat and a gasket for like 79 cents.

If you can, pressure test the system. It could have also leaked from the top of where the heater core hoses connect to the pipes on the IM side. Check those hoses, and their clamps for tightness.

If this happens again, BLAST the heater. YOu'll want to do that anytime a car overheats anyways to draw heat away from the engine. If the heat is hot, then coolant is getting to the core, so there is pressure and there's enough fluid for the water pump to cycle. If it is cool, check the coolant level inside the rad (after car is cooled).

BigZach · 06-14-2006, 04:57 AM

Yeah change the thermostat and check out the housing, it may be cracked. I got the thermostat and gasket for 17 bucks from the dealer. I've read that the thermostat housing is form 20-60 dollars, they crack easily if overtighted.
I'd check all of the small coolant hoses, like the ones that go to the throttle body, etc. On my old cars those would fail and would make the car do some crazy shit.

valusek · 06-14-2006, 04:44 PM

Do you know if i could buy a new thermostat/gasket at a regular autoparts place (autozone, kragen, etc)? or does it have to be from a dealer, cause the nearest one is about 20 miles away and I'm not sure if I wanna be making that trek. It's actually been doing pretty good...hasn't done it again since that one time, but i'll try and get it changed out this weekend so we'll see...
Thanks again for the help

Jed118 · 06-16-2006, 01:56 AM

Well I don't have a thermostat or a gasket (perfect mating surfaces) so yeah, I haven't bought one in years.

Pepboys one should be fine.

valusek · 06-18-2006, 04:05 AM

you run your car without a thermostat or a gasket???
I didn't know you can do that. Are there any benefits/side effects to running your car like that?

Jed118 · 06-20-2006, 04:50 AM

Well, I have a nissan micra double core rad. Unfortunately, it's a bit smaller than a stock pony rad so it tends to overheat with ANY thermostat. Without one it works very well.

My Tempo used to run without one. Makes for a bitch in the winter (took like 20 mins to get heat in the car)

The benefits? Less resistance (and therefore strain) on the water pump. Coolant flow is not impeded and pressure does not build up as quickly, and is easily dissipated, therefore cooling the block a lot better than with a thermostat.

The fact that I don't have a gasket is a testament to the 4G Mitsu motor I have. Designed over 40 years ago and still not warped. I wonder how my heads are... :surprised: