loosing coolant

[black91turbo]

Hey guys, I just got done with a mild rebuild (catch can, new IC pipes, relocate the power steering, etc) It started right up....and it seemed like it was running fine. Then I drove it for a while and the bird cage (BHG) light comes on. I pulled over and looked in the overflow reservoir, and it was almost empty. There was coolant all over the intercoler and the reservoir. So i pulled over and added coolant to the reservoir and to the radiator, it went away instantaneously. So I kept driving for about 10 minutes and then lit up again. Again I pull over and the same thing happens.... I never had this problem before..... I noticed that even at idle the coolant is dripping through that little hose from the reservoir tank. Any ideas ???? help or suggestions are always appreciated!!! Thanks

 

[Joker Fuel]

erm... leaky hose??? just replace the damn thing...

 

[ma71supraturbo]

your coolant is getting pressurized and is being forced out... Possible causes (in order of cost to fix):

Debris stuck in front of radiator
Bad radiator cap
Thermostat stuck shut
malfunctioning fan clutch
BHG

 

[black91turbo]

I just got a new radiator cap, new thermostat, and a new fan clutch........ that leaves me with only one ther choice :cry:

 

[ma71supraturbo]

If you did have a leak and happened to have a low level of coolant -- it could also explain it. But you described it emptying the system so rapidly that if there were a leak you'd know what general area it is in (and the only hose over the IC is from the overflow).

The only other possibility is a bad waterpump, but it's fairly rare. Try running with the heater on full blast... If the air coming out of the vents alternates from cold to hot and back -- you've got air in the system (either from leak or BHG)

 

[xXxICExXx]

I just got a new radiator cap, new thermostat, and a new fan clutch........ that leaves me with only one ther choice :cry:

Not neccessarily. My first thoughts when reading what you posted was thermostat. Its new, but is it installed correctly? :icon_razz Just because something screws up with the rad doesnt mean its a BHG lol. If you JUST got a new cap, thermo and fan clutch, what do you think the chances are that something wasnt installed correctly? I think those chances are prettty good. Check over everything thats been recently done involving the coolant system.

 

[johnathan1]

Pressure test the rad cap...I bought one new from Toyota, and it turned out to be defective, and wouldn't hold as much pressure as it should have, I think it was like 9-10psi when I tested it, and it should have been 13...:nono: It exhibited the same symptoms you are describing.

I bought ANOTHER from Toyota, and it has been fine ever since.

 

[black91turbo]

Well i actually swapped out a few turbo coolant line aside from doing the thermostat, so I wasn't exactly sure how much fluid was there to begin with. I just filled up the radiator after I started the car and I figured it should have cycled itself right?? I think I will try a flush and test the radiator cap as well as the thermostat first. Thanks for all of your replies...