Did my coolant freeze?
02-21-2018, 01:35 AM
#1
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Did my coolant freeze?
First, please don't flame me. I feel like a moron already. In the spirit of "good judgment," I have postponed driving my 951 as I know it needs new oil and a filter. I moved it out of the garage to do some building/painting projects, and it got quite cold during that time, definitely below freezing. I thought little of it since surely I had antifreeze in the car, right? Well the coolant reservoir was empty tonight, so I put water in it, didn't need much, and cranked her up. Everything seemed normal, then after a few minutes there was some steam coming off of what seemed like the radiator. I started to think it was just moisture that may be stuck there as it has been raining quite a bit, so after stopping to inspect and seeing no coolant anywhere, I started up again. Finally the fans cut on, no change, then while I was checking under the car, water started coming out on the passenger side near the radiator, seemingly hitting the fan and spraying a bit. Note I did not say anti freeze. I stopped the engine immediately and inspected more, but could not see an obvious leak anywhere. Everything around that area was just wet.
In an effort to find the leak, I started up again, but the leak did not return, even after the fans cycled. Like I said, I already feel like a moron. Now I'm as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. If there was freezing, shouldn't I have seen an issue sooner? Am I suspecting correctly that the opening of the thermostat may have been the event that let water out from wherever it was? I have all intentions at this point to empty and refill with coolant, and replace my reservoir as it has a slight slight leak at the top most nipple, but I would like to diagnose or otherwise rule out problems before I do that.
In an effort to find the leak, I started up again, but the leak did not return, even after the fans cycled. Like I said, I already feel like a moron. Now I'm as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. If there was freezing, shouldn't I have seen an issue sooner? Am I suspecting correctly that the opening of the thermostat may have been the event that let water out from wherever it was? I have all intentions at this point to empty and refill with coolant, and replace my reservoir as it has a slight slight leak at the top most nipple, but I would like to diagnose or otherwise rule out problems before I do that.
02-21-2018, 08:44 AM
#3
Just refill the system and using a pressure tester look for leaks. Sounds like all you did was damaged the radiator. If that's it, consider yourself lucky. AutohuasAZ got them pretty cheep.
Don't tell the wife. She'll call you a moron. According to the bro code we forgive you because we all been there and done it.
Don't tell the wife. She'll call you a moron. According to the bro code we forgive you because we all been there and done it.
02-21-2018, 10:46 AM
#4
Drifting
Those engines are pretty tough ... i had left my car on the lift in my unheated garage and being that i run water and water wetter in the
cooling system as per racing regulations , the water hoses were frozen solid and came off the lower part of the rad due to expansion , i was sure that was the
end of my engine but once everything thawed out it was all good !
See if you can borrow a STANT pressure tester, you will know right away if you have a leak somewhere .
cooling system as per racing regulations , the water hoses were frozen solid and came off the lower part of the rad due to expansion , i was sure that was the
end of my engine but once everything thawed out it was all good !
See if you can borrow a STANT pressure tester, you will know right away if you have a leak somewhere .
02-21-2018, 11:38 AM
#5
Nordschleife Master
Pressure test it. Many "Large chain" parts stores do tool loan programs.
Anything said on here is just a guess.
It's possible that your expansion tank leak is running down the hose and ending up over on the passenger side (but that's just a guess).
Or you froze something up and the ice expanded enough to burst something.
How good was your anti-freeze?
How old was it?
How cold did it get?
Was there any puddle under the car after it got cold and then warmed up?
You aren't a moron. You made a mistake. As Marc noted, BTDT. The adage about 'casting the first stone' comes to mind.
Anything said on here is just a guess.
It's possible that your expansion tank leak is running down the hose and ending up over on the passenger side (but that's just a guess).
Or you froze something up and the ice expanded enough to burst something.
How good was your anti-freeze?
How old was it?
How cold did it get?
Was there any puddle under the car after it got cold and then warmed up?
You aren't a moron. You made a mistake. As Marc noted, BTDT. The adage about 'casting the first stone' comes to mind.
02-22-2018, 11:53 AM
#6
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Usually the radiator is what lets go first which seems to be the case here, but like said, get a pressure tester on it and make sure. I have seen numerous 944's freeze up with only water in the system and the motor has always been fine.
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02-22-2018, 10:43 PM
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Ok a couple of updates. I put a pressure tester on it, and there seems to be a drip leak somewhere above the temp sensor, which is really hard to actually see. I'm hoping it's just a matter of tightening the clamp there. There was another drip near the clamp on the large house coming off the water pump. Hoping for the same.
Before I go on, the food news is that the fluid leaking out is GREEN. I already feel a lot better about this whole situation.
A side note, I pulled the temp sensor plug off, and whether it happened at that moment or before I cannot tell, but the center wire is severed and another without some insulation. The outer insulation that should cover these is pulled back. So it looks like I need a replacement plug.
Is this the sensor that runs the temp gauge on the dash, out just the fans? Would it be safe to run the engine long enough to continue checking for leaks?
Before I go on, the food news is that the fluid leaking out is GREEN. I already feel a lot better about this whole situation.
A side note, I pulled the temp sensor plug off, and whether it happened at that moment or before I cannot tell, but the center wire is severed and another without some insulation. The outer insulation that should cover these is pulled back. So it looks like I need a replacement plug.
Is this the sensor that runs the temp gauge on the dash, out just the fans? Would it be safe to run the engine long enough to continue checking for leaks?
02-23-2018, 12:58 AM
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Ok tightened up the nipple in the top corner of the radiator, even trimmed the hose. Raised the pressure again and fluid is dripping even more from the support under the radiator. 
There's just too much in the way to see where it's seeping out. All of this said, I still expect to see some bigger leak when the engine is running and the thermostat opens.
There's just too much in the way to see where it's seeping out. All of this said, I still expect to see some bigger leak when the engine is running and the thermostat opens.
02-23-2018, 12:26 PM
#10
You need a new radiator. When I removed the original factory installed one in my '86 I was super careful and it still failed in the same area as you describe. It became clear that it had failed between the plastic end cap and the core. Not uncommon since that side is the hot return from the head and receives the most abuse. I tried new a new gasket on the nipple and fan control switch. No difference.
Don't forget to order new top and bottom rubber mounts for the radiator.
Look on the bright side. You can clean all the gunk out of the A/C condenser and have excellent airflow.
Don't forget to order new top and bottom rubber mounts for the radiator.
Look on the bright side. You can clean all the gunk out of the A/C condenser and have excellent airflow.
03-09-2018, 08:40 AM
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You need a new radiator. When I removed the original factory installed one in my '86 I was super careful and it still failed in the same area as you describe. It became clear that it had failed between the plastic end cap and the core. Not uncommon since that side is the hot return from the head and receives the most abuse. I tried new a new gasket on the nipple and fan control switch. No difference.
Don't forget to order new top and bottom rubber mounts for the radiator.
Look on the bright side. You can clean all the gunk out of the A/C condenser and have excellent airflow.
Don't forget to order new top and bottom rubber mounts for the radiator.
Look on the bright side. You can clean all the gunk out of the A/C condenser and have excellent airflow.
03-09-2018, 09:10 AM
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IMO there are enough good used ones out there that you might as well get one, flush it, and go. There is one on Ebay for $90 shipped that even has a blue plastic factory drain plug in place.
I've just flushed out the radiator from my 92, got a good amount of stuff out of it despite it being a pretty clean system overall. I am doing the timing belt, water pump, etc. I'm liking how $2 walmart engine cleaner gets into the matrix and foams out also.
I've just flushed out the radiator from my 92, got a good amount of stuff out of it despite it being a pretty clean system overall. I am doing the timing belt, water pump, etc. I'm liking how $2 walmart engine cleaner gets into the matrix and foams out also.