Smelling coolant inside the car again! :(

CajunKenny

CajunKenny

PULL MY FINGER. PLEASE!
Nov 15, 2007
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Washington
Ok. I just got done repairing a BHG that took out my rad and heater core.

The heater core was repairable. I took it to a radiator shop and they fixed it. They pressure tested it and re-soldered where necessary.

I installed my new Koyo Rad, the repaired heater core, and an HKS 1.2mm headgasket. I torqued my ARP studs to ARP's specifications and retorqued after 5 heat-ups and cool-downs.

There are no temperature shifts at all. Temp gauge reads normal. Idle is normal with the exception of a miss type of sound. The idle speed doesn't fluctuate at all. A fellow Supra owner said that the slight stumble/miss at idle is inherant to 7M's. Is he accurate...I don't know?

I have no leaks outside the car; but, occasionally I get wiffs of coolant inside the car and I am now starting to hear that ever so sooooooooothing water fall sound. I felt around on the carpet by the floor vents and as far back as I could reach behind the center console; but, found no coolant or wet carpet.

My biggest fear is that this could be related to the head, block, or headgasket. Is it possible for a cracked head, block, or leaky head gasket to cause these symptoms?

I am going to Napa after work tomorrow to pick up a coolant system pressure tester. Would a cylinder leak down test be a good thing to do at this point in addition to the coolant system pressure test?

Thanks for your thoughts!
 
Nomad707

Nomad707

Im From The Bay
Mar 14, 2007
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Santa Rosa, California
did you get the block decked? the head decked? did you check either for warpage?

maybee the HG is blown because of these.. and maybe you have an exhuast leak that seeps into the cabin smelling of coolant.
 
Poodles

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
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Fort Worth, TX
Pressure test the cooling system (as see if it holds it)

Did you buy new seals for the extension pipes off of the heater core?
 
CajunKenny

CajunKenny

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Nov 15, 2007
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Good thoughts! I didn't replace the heater core extension pipes; but, I did replace the o-rings. I visually inspected everything; but, saw no flaws.

Yeah, I did borrow a pressure tester and tested it before putting the dash back together. A friend of mine said the he could faintly smell antifreeze outside the car by the heater control valve. I never did; but, I'll take his word for it.

I ordered three different heater cores; but, they were all less than satisfactory for my liking. Two of the three were bent/mashed where the extension pipes went in and the other one was mis-shapen. Having mine fixed seemed like the best option.

I'll pressure test it again when I buy the pressure tester. I don't want to borrow my buddy's again. I hate borrowing stuff! :)

So then, does a cracked head, block, or leaking HG seem less likely or still a possibility?
 
CajunKenny

CajunKenny

PULL MY FINGER. PLEASE!
Nov 15, 2007
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Washington
Here's a couple of pics of my BHG just for kicks. #2 and #6.

OEM HG w/ARP's @ 80 ftlb running 12.5 psi of boost. As you can see it didn't hold. My guess is either detonation or the OEM HG just couldn't hold it. #6 had been getting steam cleaned for a little while. :nono:
 

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Suprafast0422

New Member
Nov 14, 2006
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These heater cores seam like there a real problem on these cars.... would it be best to just replace with a new one with new o rings or gaskets or whatevers sealing stuff up in there? I think ill get a price for a new one once i get to work today... although if i remember correctly they can be pricey sometimes.
 
CajunKenny

CajunKenny

PULL MY FINGER. PLEASE!
Nov 15, 2007
3,255
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Washington
Suprafast0422;1184149 said:
These heater cores seam like there a real problem on these cars.... would it be best to just replace with a new one with new o rings or gaskets or whatevers sealing stuff up in there? I think ill get a price for a new one once i get to work today... although if i remember correctly they can be pricey sometimes.
Click to expand...

I was quoted $450.00 for a new Heater Core from Toyota. The reason is because of the EXTREME import taxes at the time they were made and shipped from over seas. The import tax has since been greatly reduced; but, Toyota has not reduced the price of the cores because they don't want to lose money. Hosers...

The three that I got in from Napa, AutoZone, and Schucks were all rebuilt and were in worse shape than the one that went with the BHG.

The Heater Cores are no longer in production and no one has any new ones. (at least that's what I was told) The only ones I found available were remanufactured ones and they were rough...
 
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