over heating

[hazzardoustoysjr]

i had almost the same problem about a month ago and it went away and now its back. first off on initial start up I can smell coolant then that disapates which it has done for a while now. car also smokes but that is mostly due to the seal in the turbo. but while driving the temp gauge travels all over, from where it should be, to almost red line then comes back, when I opend the reservoir cap it was full but it started draining as soon as the cap came off. I put a thermostat in over the summer because it was doing the same thing. that seemed to work for about 2 weeks and it was back. then it stopped for a while and now its back. any ideas would be great? I have never seen a car that would just sometimes over heat like this. I wonder if I blew a headgasket but I did a co2 test and It did not change color. thanks again guys

 

[007GTCS]

Heater core maybe. Considering you are smelling the coolant inside at start up

 

[hazzardoustoysjr]

I smell it outside of the car, sorry for the confusion there.

 

[007GTCS]

You have a coolant leak somewhere. Is the fan coming on to cool?

 

[hazzardoustoysjr]

yes fan is coming on, and I don't see any leaks externally on the motor... no puddles in driveway either

 

[007GTCS]

Hmm I would look at your oil and see if it is milky looking. Sounds like head gasket to me. Or you have air in the system.

 

[Steve@Tasca]

Put an OEM stat in it or an aftermarket? I see a lot of issues with aftermarket stats.

 

[hazzardoustoysjr]

it is an oem 190 degree I belive, and on the dip stick it is clean but I have breathers on the motor and they are milky and under the fill cap is also but it has been like that since turbo kit was installed like 9 months ago, I wrote it off as condensation from having the breathers on instead of the pcv system.

 

[JeremyH]

When it smokes does it smell like carbon or does it smell sweet?

 

[Wild White Pony]

Does it look like this under the valve cover cap but the oil is clean and CO2 test shows no head gasket leak?

If so pull the valve cover and check for coolant coming out of one of the
studs, the coolant will evaporate before going down to the pan.

System under 20psi shows leaks passenger side.


Had this happen to my Aluminator, to much torq on ARP studs can make a hairline crack at the bottom of the threads in the block.
Would cause coolant loss and overheat if the fluid level fell and gulped air.

If it turns out to be the problem, a member here(MoneyPit) had a great write up on these hairline cracks and even sawed an engine in half to find them. I had 2 studs leak, sealed them up a couple years ago and still holding.

 

[hazzardoustoysjr]

smoke smells sweet like coolant at first start up then it starts smelling like carbon after a min or so and @wild white pony, it looks just like your picture and passed co2 test and no water in oil on dipstick or when oil is drained. but I have tty bolds and am only at 13 psi max

 

[hazzardoustoysjr]

I will have to pull a cover and do a preasure test like you said to be sure though