Cooling System Question

[TheOneOnlyDrone]

Well, first, I just bought my 7M-GTE 87 Supra. Radiator blew up on me a couple days after i got it so i replaced it with a Koyo Aluminum. Replaced thermostat and upper radiator hose today and had some complications. It's not running hot, but coolant is leaking from the bottom of the thermostat housing. Also, while the engine was running and i was driving for about 10 minutes, i tried to push in the upper radiator hose to see if the thermostat was opening, and it was hard as a rock. Okay, here's where i think the problem is... while i was replacing the thermostat, the housing swung a little and the blue electrical connector broke from the connection. there is no way of half-assing it and putting it back on. If this is my problem for the thermostat not opening, let me know what i can do to fix this/replace this. I'm thinking if i drench the thermostat housing with sealant, then that would stop the leak. Please help me out as I'm getting extremely frustrated.

Thanks
Mike

 

[OneJArpus]

i had a problem with a little hose under all that wiring on the bottom of the T-Stat housing. IT blew on me at wot

 

[arz]

Try this: Start with a cold car in the AM, before you start it open the radiator cap to make sure there is no pressure. Leave cap off start car (get some one else to do it if you can. Watch the coolant. Does it move as soon as the car is started? Install cap wait 30 seconds to 1~2 minute(s) is the radiator hose hard then? Open cap, did the radiator have pressure already? If so a radiator/heater hose might not be your biggest problem.

Let us know what happens after this test.

Hope its just a hose.

 

[GotBoost?]

The t-stat is not electrically actuated, so the sensor you broke has no bearing on it. If the t-stat is installed correctly and working properly, it'll open when it reaches its set point. About that coolant leaking from the t-stat housing, did you install a new t-stat housing seal? I don't know about using sealant on it. Or the housing bolts maybe aren't tight enough? Don't overtight them, or you'll ge to drill the bolt off (ask me how I know). Run the test mentioned above. Wish you good luck, and hope for the best.

 

[Silent Smith]

I use some high temp RTV sealant on the tstat housing as extra security just incase, The rubber ring gasket should hold but the added insurance is nice.

If your getting alot of pressure that could indicate pressure from the combustion chamber forcing it's way into the system, I have a leak in my cooling system and the upper rad hose goes limp.

 

[mrnickleye]

Every time (damn it) I've had the t-stat out, I've ended up HAVING to use a NEW rubber seal. Just get a new one and put it on, and always only snug the bolts down. They can break. Firm is all they can handle, because the housing bottoms out.

The hard hose is what told me to get a 'block test' done, which finally told me about the BHG.

BTW...my radiator went first. Probably from the stress of the constant high pressure on it.

 

[NDBoost]

werd,
do the following:

check all small hoses in the car. - 1 hose in the back of the head, two or 3 under the intake plenum, 1 hose under the CPS/Tstat housing up against the block. Take the tstat cover off and use RTV/Black Silicone and get a new seal for the tstat, dont torque the bolts down alot, just enough to be snug ( ive stripped out 2 housings before ifigured that one out).

Do what arz said about checking for pressure etc, if you indeed do have what he has described get a block test and cooling system tester kit and test both. You could have the start of a BHG from the radiator blowing up.

Koyo radiators are nice tho, my radiator was reman by them

 

[TheOneOnlyDrone]

k well i put RTV silicone around the housing as a seal. I think this will fix the problem. I think i'm just paranoid about the tstat. Its not getting hot so i'm sure its opening. thanks guys

 

[Figit090]

how much pressure should the cooling system have???

I.E. when you squeeze the main upper radiator hose, how firm is it if everything is ok?? how firm under a BHG??