I have a Eunos S-Special 1.8 Manual (1996). The coolant was looking quite rusty coloured so I changed it. It only took 5 litres of coolant to fill her, rather than the 6 Litres quoted, which I thought was a bit odd.
The car is off the road for winter (in a wooden garage) so today I decide to “turn her over”. I fired her up - all OK. But then as she got to normal temp (according to the gauge) steam started coming of the radiator. I turned her off straight away. There were no puddlles of coolant under the car before I switched her on, but there was an odd drop of coolant on the bottom of the radiator itself.
I am guessing I have a small pin-hole leak in the radiator matrix?
My question is should I try Rad-Weld or similar, or take her to a Garage and get her checked over?
I could be anything from a air blockage to a very slight leak from the rad but could be somthing like a leaking headgasket ect so its better to get it upto temp (make sure the heater is on full) and check for leaks or a drop in coolant as if its just a airblock the coolant level will drop that missing liter of coolant if its a leak you will see it somewhere but if its a dodgy headgasket you may need a sniff test from a garage unless you have other signs like mayo looking stuff in the oil filler hole or a oily film in the coolant tank on the water
Hope you are right! - will probably have to take the car for checks at the garage. Before my recent coolant change the coolant was very rusty looking, as is the Radiator Cap (inside). I suspect someone who owned the car before me did,nt put in the right strength of Anti-Freeze, and maybe the radiator is part filled with grot?
I think I might have the same issue. I did try flushing the radiator when I changed the coolant but I guess you can only wash out so much. I might have to try a new aftermarket rad from MX5 Parts.
The cores in most radiators are very narrow, they silt up quickly if antifreeze changes are neglected. In my experience trying to flush a radiator is, simply, a waste of time. If it is blocked/severely restricted then the only remedy is a new radiator. Anyone who has cut one open will understand. There used to be companies nationwide who would recore radiators in 24 hours. Do they still exist?
if its a leak you will see it somewhere but if its a dodgy headgasket you may need a sniff test from a garage unless you have other signs like mayo looking stuff in the oil filler hole or a oily film in the coolant tank on the water 