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Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 6
Reg: 12-2009

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 10:37 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I seem to be constantly running low on coolant and I have not spotted any clear leaks... Signs of a blown head gasket I think.

Around how much am I looking to pay for a fix? :S
I live in Adelaide so if anyone knows how best to go to and who can get me the best price it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Dave Rose
Goo Roo
wa
uzz31 v8

Posts: 1146
Reg: 03-2007

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:46 pm, by:  Dave Rose (Sand_groper) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

rare for a head gasket to go? unless you ran it with low coolant, check the pipe in the valley ?
and get a pressure test first before you start spending ....good luck.
Ty Mackay
Goo Roo
WA
Soarer TT 1jz-gte

Posts: 1308
Reg: 01-2009

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:56 pm, by:  Ty Mackay (Duo89) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

head gasket as well is to check the oil cap, if its cloudy/milky its usual signs of a blown head gasket
Brian Rignall
Tinkerer
NSW
V8

Posts: 33
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 01:02 pm, by:  Brian Rignall (Cashmere) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As stated before, very unlikely (rare) for head gaskets to blow.

Sure sign is milky deposit underneath oil filler cap. Also one would expect erratic performance, due to loss of compression.

The plastic coolant reservoirs occasionally split around the top, where the two section are welded together. Or sometimes the connection for the water level sensor on the cap weeps.

Best bet to check for blown gasket (if you can't see anything) is to have a compression test done on all cylinders: fairly simple to do and you also get a great understanding of how good your compression is for each pot! If one or more are lower than average, then you have some further investigation to go on with at the engine side. If not look to hoses, clamps etc and also leaks in the radiator.

To do the head, well one would expect only one side not both to have blown, you'll be up for around $1,500-2,000 for labour, refinishing of head surface, new gasket, new head bolts, seals etc.
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31

Posts: 11339
Reg: 11-2004

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 01:22 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Most garages can do a quick check for exhaust gases getting into the radiator. Only takes a couple of minutes.
Matthew Sharpe
Goo Roo
North Island
JZZ31

Posts: 5206
Reg: 10-2005

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 02:23 pm, by:  Matthew Sharpe (Madmatt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, most likely a leak from somewhere. Often on the 1UZ-FE they are in places that are very hard to notice without careful examination.
Boris Siljanoski
TryHard
Western Australia
Soarer GZ20 TT

Posts: 288
Reg: 11-2007

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 04:06 pm, by:  Boris Siljanoski (Z2tt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

A cream colored underside on the oil cap is not a sure sign of a blown head gasket. Moisture raises to the highest point which is often the oil cap, so you may think you have coolant building up in your oil system when it's just moisture content in the air which has built up on the oil cap.

Leakdown test is a better way of checking for a blown head gasket, as well as the test Peter Nitschke mentioned.
Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 7
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 05:54 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cool.

Well Ive checked under the cap, no milky residue!

I dont know what the problem could be, because it seems that the coolant level always seems to drop to the same level...

I fill it up to the top, and it drops to around an inch from where I filled it up to.

Generally this problem only occurs on longer drives through the hills, and generally isnt that bad on flat roads.

This is pretty much my first car where I have to do any mechanical inspection/fixing work so if anyone can explain to me what I should (or can without a mechanic) check that would be great!

I have noticed that at one point there was a leak from the sensor cap of the radiator, however I had problems with it before and I think its just leftover residue from that.... Ive checked it right after a drive and the residue was dry.

Also Ive noticed that the car takes quite a while to cool down when I leave it parked... I guess since its dark green it probably wont cool too quick. I never get any unusual temp readings while driving though, temp climbs halfway and remains there for whole drive.

Thanks in advance guys! :-)
Damian Ware
Goo Roo
Victoria
UZZ32

Posts: 1375
Reg: 10-2005

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:00 pm, by:  Damian Ware (Frozenpod) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Chris Kaczmarek wrote on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 05:54 pm:

I dont know what the problem could be, because it seems that the coolant level always seems to drop to the same level...

I fill it up to the top, and it drops to around an inch from where I filled it up to.




Could be coolant expansion and a little lost due to over flow.
Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 8
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:32 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

thing is I get a japanese error message telling me I have low radiator fluid.... So i guess its dropping to dangerously low levels.

Thats how i noticed the problem in the first place.
Barry Precious
Tinkerer
Maputo
4.0GT V8

Posts: 67
Reg: 07-2007

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:52 pm, by:  Barry Precious (Barryp) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Chris...

Firstly, I don't think that it is normal for your expansion tank to be 100% full - there should be a line on the side somewhere indicating the full mark or it could be the same level as where the top part of the tank (black plastic) meets the bottum part of the tank (clear plastic).

Secondly the water level warning fault is a fairly common problem with soarers, the warning comes up when infact there is no problem with the level. The sensor could be disconnected, as I understand that the newer tanks don't even come with the sensor....
Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 9
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:54 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The coolant level is about an inch below the recommended level indicated at the side of the tank, I filled it up to the recommended cool level.
Boris Siljanoski
TryHard
Western Australia
Soarer GZ20 TT

Posts: 291
Reg: 11-2007

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 07:38 pm, by:  Boris Siljanoski (Z2tt) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I wonder why it's a common problem, i've noticed it not only on z30 soarers but on UCF10 Celsiors, it would show a low level warning when it's full.

I wonder why this could be?

Anybody have any input to share?
Damian Ware
Goo Roo
Victoria
UZZ32

Posts: 1376
Reg: 10-2005

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 08:45 pm, by:  Damian Ware (Frozenpod) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


Chris Kaczmarek wrote on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 06:32 pm:

thing is I get a japanese error message telling me I have low radiator fluid.... So i guess its dropping to dangerously low levels.

Thats how i noticed the problem in the first place.




They are a common failure item and in later year models they were removed.

If you are sure your coolant level isn't getting too low unplug it.

I would suggest that you keep a close eye on the coolant levels though for a bit after you run without the level sensor.
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31

Posts: 11342
Reg: 11-2004

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 08:52 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Boris, the float that operates the switch have been known to sink.

Chris, clean the dried coolant off, and see if it re-appears. Water and possibly an old tooth brush should do it.
Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 10
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 09:16 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

@ Peter

The only problem is im not sure if its safe to drive really. That part was only replaced in December (I had an radiator overhaul done, including a new sensor, hoses, clamps and a full radiator clean). So I doubt it, is there any other places I should be checking for coolant?

The residue doesnt seem to have changed since I first noticed it before the problems.
Peter Nitschke
Junk Filterer
South Australia
UZZ30 UZZ31

Posts: 11345
Reg: 11-2004

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 09:41 pm, by:  Peter Nitschke (Pen) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Chris, let the temp gauge guide you as to whether it's safe.

Clean it, top it up to the line, then go for a drive around your suburb so you don't have far to get home if it starts to overheat.

It's only dropping an inch which is curious. It still may be that the sensor isn't sealing in the bubble tank properly.

I bought a brand new tank a while back, and have not been able to get it to seal 100%, so it still weeps a bit and the level drops a little.
Chris Kaczmarek
Tinkerer
South Australia
UZZ30 V8

Posts: 11
Reg: 12-2009

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Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 10:31 pm, by:  Chris Kaczmarek (Wheelspinnin) Quote hilighted text Edit Post Delete Post Print Post   View Post/Check IP (Moderator/Admin Only) Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I generally only tend to get the problem going from my place in Edwardstown to my friends up in Morphett Vale (im assuming you live in Adelaide, so you can approximate distances and the sort of hills I have to get up).

I can drive down to Glenelg and places closer to my place without the warning or any major level drops. Im assuming if Ive already topped it up once and I dont have milky residue on bottom of my oil cap its probably not head gasket and I can get away with driving it without damaging my engine? (I only get the message, no temp problems)

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