ok guys ...I think there is some serious damage happening to my MAX. I was checking the coolant level today cause I flushed it last weekend, and I saw like 3-4 dots *It looked like oil* and I was like freaking out in the street. cause if that's what I think it is..then I have a blown head gasket..right?

 

If you have a blown head gasket one, there will be one, or more ot these additional symptoms:
1 - The engine oil will look like capaccino.
2 - The coolant level will keep going low.
3 - The temp gauge will read high when you first refill the coolant, and then drop low after running for a while (there isn't enough coolant to reach the temp sensor).
4 - Clouds of white smoke will come out of the exhaust

 

when you said the coolant level will go down....how much are we talking about here? cause I didn't notice that it dropped.

 

Your car will run like **** too.

I think thats the technical term for it 'running like ****'

 

I've been through this same thing with my RX-7. I SWORE that I must have a bad internal seal. Simple fact of that matter is that the cooling system just has crap in it. One question though: are you using Redline Water Wetter? Water wetter will cause this problem because it kinda has a degergent effect and WILL cause you to see "oil like stuff" in your coolant. I wouldn't worry about this even if you don't use water wetter, it's just REALLY common with folks that do use it.

 

Brian..no I am not using Redline water wetter. I was thinking about using it when I did the flush but I went to pepboys to get it and they were out out it..and after that I was busy to stop again and check if they have it.
But...is there any way the the he** I can check on this thing? I mean if this is true ...that is a new engine.
GOD HELP ME!!! lol

 

I'm not really sure how to check it honestly. I would just look at your oil and make sure that it looks normal. Basically I think that if it was leaking you would have some REALLY nasty oil. We are just talking about 2 or 3 drops that are floating near the top of the rad correct?

When I had the problem I just it to my mechanic who assured me that I was just loosing my mind, and that nothing was wrong. I had them flush it just to comfort me a little more. This was 2 years ago... car still runs perfect :-)

Seriously, I don't think you really have much to worry about, especially since it is only a few drops. I went through the same worries that you are with my RX... I was even trying to figure out what I would buy instead. At the time I still had my non-turbo RX-7 with a blown motor, and if my new car was blown too, I wasn't going to EVER look at another rotary again :-)

If you have a good TRUSTWORTHY (not many of them out there) mechanic then you may want to speak with them about it just to ease your mind.

 

How often should coolant be changed? Every year or so? I've had the car for a year and haven't flushed it yet.. do you guys know if Quicklube places or something of that sort do that? Though I'd prefer doing it myself if it's not hard..

What is the "better" coolant to use?

Can ****ty coolant or blow gasket cause powerloss or poor fuel milage?


thanks, sorry I don't have answers..

 

I did the flush myself and it wasn't hard at all. The only hard part was to find the screws to empty the engine block from the old coolant. The was two drain plugs. One of them was easy to get to. It was behind the alternator. the other one was behind or on the boot on the driver's side. Man it was freaking pain the a$$ to get to it or even trying to.plus you have to empty the radiator itself by twisting that drain plug on the bottom of it.
when you get it empty, fill it with water and let the engine run for about 10 mins. Empty from the radiator drain plug only this time. Fill with water again. let it run for another 10 mins and then empty it. so far you have done the flush part. now when you fill it for the final time, fill it with 50/50 water/coolant mixture.but you have to fill it when the engine is cool down. The radiator should take about 8.5 - 9 QTS. that's what the chilton manual says. and when you fill it, there is a lil screw on the top of you intake manifold, it's says "never open when hot" you have to unscrew it so that there is no air in the system. it is on the upper left corner on your manifold. that's on the VG 30E though..I don't know about the VE. But I can look it up for you if you want.
Well i been talking alot now...so I will let you think about this and see if it's easy enough for you.
laters