radiator question

[Chris]

this is prob. a simple question, but is the radiator fan supposed to turn all the time or only when the engine reaches a specific temp?

also, is the coolant overflow tank ALWAYS suppposed to have coolant fluid in it? After I changed mine over the summer it seems to be empty most of the time. The engine never overheats though...

[Mike]

yes, it is temperature activated.
yes, it should always be between the low and high marks

[Evan]

coolant resevoir should be read when the car is warm.

just make sure it has plenty in it, if it turns out being too much it will spit it out

[white_2kgt]

you _should_ have a warm and a cold mark on the resivor. regardless there should be _something_ in it unless it is an overflow only.

--chad

[Chris]

took care of it today, thanks for the advice.

[Chris]

well maybe I'm doing something wrong. its my overflow tank and I warm the car up, check the level of coolant in the tank and fill it up as needed. The prob is every couple days when I check it seems to have emptied again. I dont' think I have a leak, it just won't stay at the correct level... any ideas??

[JackoliciousLegs]

are you SUUUURE you don't have a leak? does the car smoke?

[Chris]

are you SUUUURE you don't have a leak? does the car smoke?

Jack, its not a rotary :lol:

the only leak I could have would be from where I put in this ghetto attachment that allowed me to flush the system with a garden hose... still its been tightened and there are no signs of leaking

[PDenbigh]

If the radiaitor/car had been low on coolant for a while, it might just be bleeding out the air. You fill it up, that fluid takes the place of some air in the system, you fill it up again, more air escapes, etc. Chime in here Honda guys if something is different with your cars, but my advise is to keep filling it and letting it drain, if more than several times go by, you must have a leak. If there are not any puddles, check your oil and make sure it doesn't look like light chocolate milk (meaning that your coolant is gettinig into your oil system)

[Chris]

If the radiaitor/car had been low on coolant for a while, it might just be bleeding out the air. You fill it up, that fluid takes the place of some air in the system, you fill it up again, more air escapes, etc. Chime in here Honda guys if something is different with your cars, but my advise is to keep filling it and letting it drain, if more than several times go by, you must have a leak. If there are not any puddles, check your oil and make sure it doesn't look like light chocolate milk (meaning that your coolant is gettinig into your oil system)

thanks. I'll keep filling it and keeping an eye on it. I know for sure there isn't any in the oil- the engine is strong and never leaks fluids.

[CaptainHenreh]

thanks. I'll keep filling it and keeping an eye on it. I know for sure there isn't any in the oil- the engine is strong and never leaks fluids.

Just because it doesn't leak fluids doesn't mean there isn't coolant in your oil. Especially if your oil level always stays precisely the same or *increases* marginally. Could be coolant leaking into your oil. This=bad bearings. (I'm pretty sure that's what happened to my 240).

Next time you change your oil, check it's color, and see if there are any streaks of lighter color in it. Or, better yet, get a sample and send it off to be tested. That will tell you alot right there.

[ViPER1313]

Whoa guys, I would bet on the radiator leaking or there being a crack in the overflow bottle before I would start suspecting a headgasket failure.

[Chris]

thanks. I'll keep filling it and keeping an eye on it. I know for sure there isn't any in the oil- the engine is strong and never leaks fluids.

Just because it doesn't leak fluids doesn't mean there isn't coolant in your oil. Especially if your oil level always stays precisely the same or *increases* marginally. Could be coolant leaking into your oil. This=bad bearings. (I'm pretty sure that's what happened to my 240).

Next time you change your oil, check it's color, and see if there are any streaks of lighter color in it. Or, better yet, get a sample and send it off to be tested. That will tell you alot right there.

hmm... thanks for the advice. actually my oil level never does change levels. I'll pay close attention next time I change it!

ahh I hope this isn't a bad sign

[ViPER1313]

When the car is COLD, take off the actual radiator cap - is the fluid level at the top? If not, fill the radiator, put the cap back on, squeeze the top radiator hose a few times, open the radiator back up and repeat until the radiator is topped off. Fill up the overflow bottle.

Quick headgasket check:

Now, if you don't already know, find the throttle body spring and figure out how to open the throttle from the engine bay. Leave the radiator cap off and start the engine. Rev the engine and watch the fluid in the radiator (not the overflow tank) - are there any bubbles? If there arenÔÇÖt any bubbles and there isn't fluid spewing everywhere I would bet your headgasket is just peachy.

Good luck. My bet is that your radiator probably has a leak in it - mine is fine when the car is off and when it is at operating temperature, but when it is warming up it spews coolant everywhere (about a gallon a week.)

[Chris]

Adam,

just did what you mentioned. The fluid in the radiator was right up to the cap, and didn't lower after squeezing the tube. I started it with the cap off and reved it some and NO bubbles. I'll keep checking and see if it was just low on fluid. If not I'll have to check the lines for a leak.

[Mike]

stick a newspaper under the radiator to check for leaks... my upper hose leaks when it gets cold so i just have to refill every few weeks. problem being my motor uses a bigger hose than my puny civic radiator so when it gets cold the ugly clampage leaks a little.