Two Issues: Waterfall + Cold Hesitation

[novaboy009]

'89 N/A DD - engine has NEVER overheated, overflow tank doesn't go down (?) but radiator loses a little bit of coolant every month or two. I've burped the system a few times with heater on high, but waterfall sound is still present. I haven't noticed any white smoke, but every once in a while I can smell a little burning coolant after extended freeway driving. Heater core doesn't leak. Oil looks perfect. This is a 30k mile JDM engine.

BHG? Cap? Themostat?

After firing the car up, the engine doesn't run quite right. If you have the throttle down pretty far and then let off the gas real quick, it stutters and wants to die. I checked for vaccum leaks and actually found one (fixed lumpy idle), but didn't resolve the cold start problem. Any ideas? Related to above?

Kev

 

[novaboy009]

Anybody????

Kev

 

[Mr. Sinister]

If you're losing coolant, it's either a leak or BHG. Pressurize your cooling system to see if it's a leak first before trying to figure out if it's a BHG. I assume the overflow isn't overflowing after a long/hard drive?

 

[novaboy009]

No, I'm not getting any boiling or coolant push.

What do you use to pressurize the system?

Kev

 

[Mr. Sinister]

No, I'm not getting any boiling or coolant push.

What do you use to pressurize the system?

Kev

Something like this:

http://www.stant.com/index.cfm?location_id=183

It just makes finding the leak easier. You could also inspect every single hose, but small leaks would be tough to find.

Are you smelling burning coolant from the tailpipe? If you are, it's most likely a BHG. If the smell is coming from the engine bay, it's probaby a leak. Check the hoses at the rear of the engine; especially that 90 degree one.

Did you try doing a search on here for BHG yet? You'll get a ton of ideas of other things to look for.

 

[rumptis]

Probably just a small leak somewhere, they can be hard to track. Inspect all your hoses very closely. Best thing to do is just replace them all.

 

[BlindRonin]

Also just like Mr. Sinister said if you pressurize the system for 10 or 15 minutes then un pressurize and cap back up. You can start the car any if its a BHG you should see the white smoke on startup due to the fluid being pushed into the cylinder. We do this at my shop to help rule out BHG.

 

[KeithH]

overflow tank doesn't go down (?) but radiator loses a little bit of coolant every month or two

How does your radiator lose coolant but your overflow is not affected? These to pieces are tied together with a hose - ahhh you disconnected your overflow hose didn't you.

I got my 89T with 50,500 miles on it. I have personally driven it more than 130,000 miles. I lose a bit of coolant every time I drive the car. I also have the waterfall sound behind the dash. Both of these have happened since I first got the Supra back in 1995.

The ONLY time my temp needle EVER moved was when I tried to run an electric fan and it was 100+ degrees outside, I was stuck in traffic, with the AC on. I have driven the Supra to Las Vegas and back 9 times climbing the Southern Oregon mountain passes and deadly Baker Grade in California with 0 problems even with the AC blasting.

Having said that... I cannot guarantee that you are having as good of luck with yours that I have had with mine.