SE Cooling Issues?

[Craig]

I haven't experienced this problem Craig, although I have noticed a bit of summerlag I believe?

My new FMIC arrives next week, and I will be fitting up next weekend hopefully, so will see if the change in airflow affects things!

I'm semi experiencing the "Bogging" (awaits FFG's response) problem that the yanks whinge about, but that said it just feels like it needs some new leads and sparkplugs to me, and a good injector clean!

Let me know how you go with the new intercooler...been considering that myself! Which one did you get?

[ASE05]

Yup, still having a similar problem.

No change in temps(on the guage) but coolant level will go from 1/2 way between the E & F mark on EXP Tank when cold to F and above depending on driving. I changed the cap on the way back from Natmeet as JBT suggested but alas, I still have the same problem. Just letting it idle for 10 mins and then shutting her down is enough to start sending the water through to the exp tank and it will also bubble. As Daz suggested, it's not boiling away but it is bubbling.

I'm 99% sure that before I dropped the coolant about 6 mths ago, she would always sit rock solid on the F mark in the EXP Tank unless it had been given a good flogging(on the track, it would never budge on the road). It would then force water into the EXP tank but that's what it's supposed to do when things get a lil warm. The car did sit for over 6 mths in the garage without beeing dríven not long after having the coolant change so after some head scratching with other Brissie folk at the Natmeet, we came to the conclusion the cap was at fault. Changing it doesn't seemed to have helped.

Michelle and I had a track day at Lakeside yesterday(fook me we had fun, that track is scary when you try to go 10/10ths ) We drove with the heater on all day and the temp guage didn't budge one bit but the coolant level went from 1/2 way between E & F when I started her in the morning to about 3cm above the F in the expansion tank.

I'm seriously looking into the coolant reroute system from 949 racing when I place the order for my 15x8's. I'm actually sending through the last couple of engine pics to ensure their kit will fit RHD vehicles.

**if anyone is looking to get one, lemme know and we could save on a lil' shipping buy getting a few sent through**

I am however about to try AJ's idea of letting her run with the cap off and the heater on for a while and see if that helps things. I clean forgot to do this when I changed the coolant last time After that and before I order the coolant reroute I'm gonna get a swirl pot thingy that sits between the radiator and the EXP tank which is supposed to remove any air pockets. I had no end of overheating dramas with my old Skyline and this single mod fixed her completely Only difference is, ASE05 aint overheating

[AJ]

Derek, don't get too worried about changing levels in the expansion tank, that's one of the reasons they are there, it'll change levels all the time, depending on what you're doing with it & what the weather is like..........in fact, i'd say if it wasn't for the expansion tank system that most modern cars have, ASEO5 WOULD be overheating, but because of the lower pressure release level of the expansion system, it's giving somewhere for the air bubbles to go, instead of creating a nasty air pocket where you don't want one.....the system is working, all you have to do is get the air out of the system

[ASE05]

I here what you're sayin' AJ but prior to the 6mths in the garage and me changing the coolant, the level never changed on the EXP tank(always sat at the F mark) unless it had been given a flogging and the level would rise then but so would the temp guage, marginally but it would go up Now it changes when you start the car, drive it to the shops or take it \"mountain driving\"

[AJ]

hehe...........bloody mountain driving

& i hear what you're saying, but that's what i mean...........there's air in your system...........the expansion tank is coping with it is all, that's why it suddenly started changing

[Okibi]

If the gauge is the same as the standard NBs don't trust it.

I finally got around to installing my water temperature gauge before Natmeet and it confirmed what others had told me previously.

The gauge is more of an \"cold/warm/too hot\" indicator and even though the gauge says the engine is at a fine operating temperature it takes about 5-10 minutes of normal driving before the thermostat opens.

Now I can see the temperature rise until the fan kicks in and see that the fan is capable of keeping the temperature from rising further.

I've been told that once the NB gauge reads \"too hot\" and you have time to notice it, it could be too late.

Having a proper temperature gauge might help you take some of the guess work out of diagnosing your cooling issues. Next step would be an aftermarket ecu that can adjust to suit the engines temperature.

I used an autometer gauge in my car but I may end up changing to a gauge that has a \"peak hold\" function as I may not notice spikes in temperature racing around the track.

I also used one of these

[JBT]

Sorry to hear the cap didn't fix it Derek. There is something not right if the coolant rises too far in the expansion bottle - especially to the point of almost overflowing from the half way mark. Try starting with the expansion tank coolant level at E when cold (i.e overnight) and see how it goes. However, it won't fix those bubbles.

I'm not sure how the heater being on will help because, AFAIK with the MX-5, it always has coolant circulating through it and it's part of the coolant system design. Putting the heater \"on\" doesn't open a water tap on these, it just opens a door to direct the hot air.

I could flog the NA up hills, on the track, whatever - the coolant never went above the full mark (starting at about 1/4 above E when cold). Same happens with the NC.

It's hard to understand how you'd still have a substantial amount of air in the system given the near 4000km run to/from NatMeet.

[ampz]

Go over all you hoses and look for any cracks?

I had the same thing on a corolla it ended up being the beginnings of a tear around a hose clamp (clamp was too tight) it would let air in the system but not enough to let water out.

[ASE05]

JBT: re the air bubbles after 3500km+ I woulda thought the same thing!! But........

Pic 1: The photo below is after letting ASE05 idle for 30~40mins w/out rad cap, giving the occasional rev to approx 4000rpm and watching a shite load o bubbles exit the cooling system(at idle - I had to add approx 300ml to the cooling system w/out loosing any out of the rad.). I extracted the excess to get the EXP tank to the F mark:






Pic 2: Post removal of air in system rev to 4000rpm, top up radiator(@ 4000rpm) and replace radiator cap. 5 mins after ignition off(normally coolant level starts to creep up, not down!)



Pic 3: 30mins after ignition off, ASE05 has previously had the coolant level in expansion tank go up not hold steady!




Pic 4: Restart and idle for 15 mins after 1.5hr cool down:



Pic 5: 30 mins post ignition shut down after Pic 4:



1. At this stage I'm 75% sure ASE05 has returned to normal, a decent drive will confirm or deny. Currently she is behaving very differently from what she has been since the coolant change and since our run to and from the Natmeet.

Although AJ is \"just\" a red light running, lane straddling, NC/truck driving, A**hole, I think he may have his finger on the prob

ampz: 38xxxkm on the clock and very regualr maintainence, I've looked for dodgey pipes etc but everything looks better than new.

JBT: I reckon an NA would get away with things being N/A but seeing as the backyard jobbie SP and to a lesser extent the factory turboed SE share a simialr problem, I reckon extra attention needs to be paid to the marginal cooling system once boost is applied

[AJ]

Although AJ is "just" a red light running, lane straddling, NC/truck driving, A**hole, I think he may have his finger on the prob

i'll take that as a compliment from a sh*t eating, rag wringing car detailer

[ASE05]

EDIT:

i'll take that as a compliment from a donkey raping sh*t eating, rag wringing car detailer

He's got you picked babe!

As for TheMissus: pack your bags biatch...............

[ASE05]

Car has done 60,000klms for reference. Temp gauge sitting at normal just to the right of middle as per usual. Craig

Well, 38XXX km on ASE05. After bleeding the air from the system(had to add 300ml of distilled water approx afterwards) and taking her for a spirited run around the block a few times(1/8th of a tank) I've found;

1. My guage used to sit 1 mm or so to the right of the centre, now 1mm before centre

2. Prior ot bleeding the air, the Exp tank was receiving at least 5 cm of coolant into the expansion tank with normal driving and worse after a spirited run. Today, she started out with the coolant level with the F mark cold and 15 mins after shutting her down it's gone over the F mark by no more than 1 cm and no bubbling/gurgling etc

At this stage, I think she's back to normal!! Looks like the MX-5 in tubo form could be a lil' sensitive to air in the system!!??

I'd like to here what other SE/SP owners Exp tank does from cold to warm and after a normal/spirited drive?

[AJ]

most engines are sensitive to air in the system.........it never worried older MG's but, they used to leak enough water to get rid of air

Abbot Ale is my new fave Derek..............

[ASE05]

Abbot Ale is my new fave Derek..............

Try it in the sixes(pack) AJ

[JBT]

At this stage, I think she's back to normal!! Looks like the MX-5 in tubo form could be a lil' sensitive to air in the system!!??

Let's hope it continues to behave itself at track day in a couple of weeks.