Odd Coolant Issue

Bshields22 · 05-08-2018, 02:56 PM

Hey fellas,

Had something odd happen to me at Autoclub Speedway. I got done with my heat (oil and engine temp guages were fine) park the Z back in the garage as I usually do. When I turned the car off i could hear a boiling sound...a very small amount of steam left the hood and then suddenly I am seeing A TON of coolant come down from under the car.

Decided to let it cool. As it cooled down for a bit I put more coolant in thinking that it just overflowed (from the bottom??). Coolant stayed in the system and "circulated??" but when i started to drive the engine go hot again after about 50 feet....boiling sound again and then after i parked it the coolant started to come out again.

So far the consensus is...busted thermostat, hose issue, cracked radiator or bad water pump.

Thoughts? Similar issue you have experienced?

Just FYI I have a 34 row oil cooler. not that its too relevant but it does block the radiator a bit....

Thanks!

370zBLAST · 05-08-2018, 03:05 PM

Seems like a bad radiator cap

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Z_ealot · 05-08-2018, 05:05 PM

I would say to check and see exactly where the coolant is draining from to get a better idea of what could be the issue.

Krylon · 05-08-2018, 05:28 PM

Pressure test the coolant system to 22psi. You’ll find your leak.

Spooler · 05-08-2018, 08:08 PM

Find your leak and correct the air pocket issue that has developed from said leak.

SouthArk370Z · 05-08-2018, 10:01 PM

Lots of good suggestions above. I'd start with finding out where the coolant is coming from. If that doesn't pinpoint the problem, I'd check radiator cap and pressure test the system. As mentioned, you need to purge air from the system after fixing problem.

Not sure if this works with modern cars but we used to get an idea of what shape the pump was in by removing the radiator cap (when engine is cold) and watching for flow - no flow means bad pump.

Bshields22 · 05-09-2018, 05:31 PM

Thank you fellas! Keep you guys posted so we can document the issue. Hopefully my whoa's help someone in the future.

Bshields22 · 06-05-2018, 01:51 PM

The final verdict: The radiator cap and the reservoir cap were reversed. Looks like when the shop installed my oil cooler they flipped the caps backwards. Caps look very similar, even took Nissan some time to figure it out. What happened was, the added pressure in the coolant lines from a track event caused the pressure to push fluid out of the overflow valved on the radiator instead of through the top of the reservoir. All fixed. Cars runs smooth and strong.

JARblue · 06-05-2018, 04:20 PM

Great news it was something simple! Although stupid

Glad you're back up and running and thanks for following up with the solution

05-08-2018, 02:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bshields22 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2012 Black 370Z-R Rep Power: 698	Odd Coolant Issue Hey fellas, Had something odd happen to me at Autoclub Speedway. I got done with my heat (oil and engine temp guages were fine) park the Z back in the garage as I usually do. When I turned the car off i could hear a boiling sound...a very small amount of steam left the hood and then suddenly I am seeing A TON of coolant come down from under the car. Decided to let it cool. As it cooled down for a bit I put more coolant in thinking that it just overflowed (from the bottom??). Coolant stayed in the system and "circulated??" but when i started to drive the engine go hot again after about 50 feet....boiling sound again and then after i parked it the coolant started to come out again. So far the consensus is...busted thermostat, hose issue, cracked radiator or bad water pump. Thoughts? Similar issue you have experienced? Just FYI I have a 34 row oil cooler. not that its too relevant but it does block the radiator a bit.... Thanks! __________________ 308 rwhp \| 252 rwtq \| Fast Intentions CBE 18" Res \| Stillen Gen 3 CAI \| EcuTek Tune \| Stoptech Slotted Rotors and Sport Pads \| KW V3 Coilovers \| SPL Upper Control Arms & Lower Rear Arms \| Seibon CF TS Hood \| Vossen CVT \| SPC Toe bolts

05-08-2018, 03:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
370zBLAST Base Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: ct Posts: 247 Drives: 09 370z 6spd Rep Power: 11	Seems like a bad radiator cap Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk SouthArk370Z and gomer_110 like this.

05-08-2018, 05:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Z_ealot A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 2,045 Drives: 09 370Z Touring/Sprt Rep Power: 10091	I would say to check and see exactly where the coolant is draining from to get a better idea of what could be the issue. SouthArk370Z likes this.

05-08-2018, 05:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Krylon Base Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 153 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 20	Pressure test the coolant system to 22psi. You’ll find your leak. SouthArk370Z likes this.

05-08-2018, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Spooler A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Ga Posts: 13,837 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 2684392	Find your leak and correct the air pocket issue that has developed from said leak. SouthArk370Z and Rusty like this.

05-08-2018, 10:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	Lots of good suggestions above. I'd start with finding out where the coolant is coming from. If that doesn't pinpoint the problem, I'd check radiator cap and pressure test the system. As mentioned, you need to purge air from the system after fixing problem. Not sure if this works with modern cars but we used to get an idea of what shape the pump was in by removing the radiator cap (when engine is cold) and watching for flow - no flow means bad pump. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

05-09-2018, 05:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bshields22 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2012 Black 370Z-R Rep Power: 698	Thank you fellas! Keep you guys posted so we can document the issue. Hopefully my whoa's help someone in the future. __________________ 308 rwhp \| 252 rwtq \| Fast Intentions CBE 18" Res \| Stillen Gen 3 CAI \| EcuTek Tune \| Stoptech Slotted Rotors and Sport Pads \| KW V3 Coilovers \| SPL Upper Control Arms & Lower Rear Arms \| Seibon CF TS Hood \| Vossen CVT \| SPC Toe bolts

06-05-2018, 01:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bshields22 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 422 Drives: 2012 Black 370Z-R Rep Power: 698	The final verdict: The radiator cap and the reservoir cap were reversed. Looks like when the shop installed my oil cooler they flipped the caps backwards. Caps look very similar, even took Nissan some time to figure it out. What happened was, the added pressure in the coolant lines from a track event caused the pressure to push fluid out of the overflow valved on the radiator instead of through the top of the reservoir. All fixed. Cars runs smooth and strong. SouthArk370Z, JARblue, Rusty and 4 others like this. __________________ 308 rwhp \| 252 rwtq \| Fast Intentions CBE 18" Res \| Stillen Gen 3 CAI \| EcuTek Tune \| Stoptech Slotted Rotors and Sport Pads \| KW V3 Coilovers \| SPL Upper Control Arms & Lower Rear Arms \| Seibon CF TS Hood \| Vossen CVT \| SPC Toe bolts

06-05-2018, 04:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	Great news it was something simple! Although stupid Glad you're back up and running and thanks for following up with the solution Bshields22 and Ghostvette like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

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