998cc Anyone help - looks like I'm Losing Coolant & something is dripping under the Spyder?

[Marek]

Anyone help - looks like I'm Losing Coolant & something is dripping under the Spyder?

Can any of you help me? Recently, during a long trip to hot regions of Europe, I noticed that every morning, fluid leaks from the black rubber tube under the chassis. This wouldn't be a problem if the fluid in the tank wasn't also decreasing. Normally, when the engine is running, hot air flows out of this tube, and as it cools, fluid begins to drip. Moreover, when I open the fluid reservoir cap, I notice pressure there, small but still. I checked that the tank vent tube is clear. Have any of you encountered such a problem?

Now that I've checked, the fluid that's leaking from this black tube can't be from the radiator, because it smells of turpentine and is flammable - petrol? That's even more interesting!?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Can any of you help me? Recently, during a long trip to hot regions of Europe, I noticed that every morning, fluid leaks from the black rubber tube under the chassis. This wouldn't be a problem if the fluid in the tank wasn't also decreasing. Normally, when the engine is running, hot air flows out of this tube, and as it cools, fluid begins to drip. Moreover, when I open the fluid reservoir cap, I notice pressure there, small but still. I checked that the tank vent tube is clear. Have any of you encountered such a problem?

Now that I've checked, the fluid that's leaking from this black tube can't be from the radiator, because it smells of turpentine and is flammable - petrol? That's even more interesting!?

Here's the good news - you can't over-fill the reservoir with coolant, and the system is self-purging! Now find the leak! ..... Mike

 

[Marek]

Here's the good news - you can't over-fill the reservoir with coolant, and the system is self-purging! Now find the leak! ..... Mike

Mike, what do you think about this flammable fluid leaking from the black pipe under the chassis? Is that the fuel tank vent?:bowdown:

 

[jjc54]

Couple of things here. The coolant system is a pressure system and the cap determines at what pressure the system relieves itself. The higher the pressure the higher the boiling point of the coolant which is good. Temperature also causes the coolant to expand so hot coolant will show a higher level than when cool. Are you checking the coolant when cold? The tube that has the hot air flowing sounds more like a crankcase ventilation tube. How much coolant are you adding and how often?

 

[Peter Aawen]

If it's been hot & you've been riding in the heat, so you've lost 'a little' coolant from the reservoir but the level is still above the lower mark, then just top it up; and as Mike says, you can't really over-fill it, cos when the cooling system gets up to operating temp next time, it'll just blow any excess coolant out as it expands & overflows, and then once it cools down it should return the level to somewhere between the low & full marks!! So don't worry too much about the coolant level &/or it blowing excess coolant out of the reservoir - just so long as the reservoir never ends up empty/lower than the low mark on the reservoir after your Spyder cools down after a ride - if it does, that means you've over-heated the system for some reason, &/or cylinder pressure has somehow got into the cooling system and blown too much coolant out! :shocked:

But you really SHOULD NOT take the coolant reservoir cap off while the engine is warm &/or the reservoir is under pressure, as that might cause some nasty burns if you get hit by the subsequent escaping near-boiling coolant or worse, pressurised steam from a boiling engine! :yikes: And by taking the cap off while the coolant is still under pressure, the hot coolant that was still liquid up 'til now might suddenly boil due to the lesser pressure dropping the boiling point of the coolant back down (coolant under pressure boils at a somewhat higher temp than non-pressurised coolant! ) Doing that means that you will lose any coolant that blows out and it'll stop the ability of the excess/expanded coolant that's filled the reservoir to be sucked back into the rad/water jacket etc until after it's gone thru the next heat cycle, so you'll be ru ning low on coolant, which might cause over-heating problems! Ideally, you should only ever take the reservoir cap off after the Spyder has been left sitting overnight, or not run for at least 8 hours or so; and by then, any pressure in the cooling system should have either been negated as the coolant cooled, or it will've bled out! If all the pressure in the cooling system hasn't bled out after 8+ hours of not running, then it's time to get your Spyder's coolant tested for exhaust gasses, checking for head gasket leaks &/or possibly a cracked head...

As for that drain leaking flammable liquid, are you sure it's not the vent/drain from the fuel system evap cannister/purge system & not a drain from the coolant reservour at all?? :dontknow: Mind you, if you are getting raw fuel out of that, your gas tank has been over-filled while it's hot too often, and your evap cannister is now pretty much useless, so you should probably do a 'cannisterectomy' - lots of info here on how to do one of them, all it takes is a search!! :thumbup:

 

[Marek]

Up until now I have not had any fluid loss. Now when the engine is cold the level is on the lower scale as it should be. Maybe there really was too much fluid and travelling long distances in a hot climate did its job.

Can a flammable fluid with a turpentine smell leak from the crankcase?

 

[Marek]

If it's been hot & you've been riding in the heat, so you've lost 'a little' coolant from the reservoir but the level is still above the lower mark, then just top it up; and as Mike says, you can't really over-fill it, cos when the cooling system gets up to operating temp next time, it'll just blow any excess coolant out as it expands & overflows, and then once it cools down it should return the level to somewhere between the low & full marks!! So don't worry too much about the coolant level &/or it blowing excess coolant out of the reservoir - just so long as the reservoir never ends up empty/lower than the low mark on the reservoir after your Spyder cools down after a ride - if it does, that means you've over-heated the system for some reason, &/or cylinder pressure has somehow got into the cooling system and blown too much coolant out! :shocked:

But you really SHOULD NOT take the coolant reservoir cap off while the engine is warm &/or the reservoir is under pressure, as that might cause some nasty burns if you get hit by the subsequent escaping near-boiling coolant or worse, pressurised steam from a boiling engine! :yikes: And by taking the cap off while the coolant is still under pressure, the hot coolant that was still liquid up 'til now might suddenly boil due to the lesser pressure dropping the boiling point of the coolant back down (coolant under pressure boils at a somewhat higher temp than non-pressurised coolant! ) Doing that means that you will lose any coolant that blows out and it'll stop the ability of the excess/expanded coolant that's filled the reservoir to be sucked back into the rad/water jacket etc until after it's gone thru the next heat cycle, so you'll be ru ning low on coolant, which might cause over-heating problems! Ideally, you should only ever take the reservoir cap off after the Spyder has been left sitting overnight, or not run for at least 8 hours or so; and by then, any pressure in the cooling system should have either been negated as the coolant cooled, or it will've bled out! If all the pressure in the cooling system hasn't bled out after 8+ hours of not running, then it's time to get your Spyder's coolant tested for exhaust gasses, checking for head gasket leaks &/or possibly a cracked head...

As for that drain leaking flammable liquid, are you sure it's not the vent/drain from the fuel system evap cannister/purge system & not a drain from the coolant reservour at all?? :dontknow: Mind you, if you are getting raw fuel out of that, your gas tank has been over-filled while it's hot too often, and your evap cannister is now pretty much useless, so you should probably do a 'cannisterectomy' - lots of info here on how to do one of them, all it takes is a search!! :thumbup:

Thank you for your help.

Couple of things here. The coolant system is a pressure system and the cap determines at what pressure the system relieves itself. The higher the pressure the higher the boiling point of the coolant which is good. Temperature also causes the coolant to expand so hot coolant will show a higher level than when cool. Are you checking the coolant when cold? The tube that has the hot air flowing sounds more like a crankcase ventilation tube. How much coolant are you adding and how often?

Thank you for your help.

 

[jjc54]

Is the hose in question supposed to be hooked to the air box to reburn the blowby from the crankcase?

 

[Bfromla]

There may also be engine stalling at low speeds with /if the evap/purge canister has fuel in it. Keep close eye on coolant & condition; does not take much to stress other parts of system; pump impeller, thermostat. Also BIG caution do NOT mix coolant colors! water down is fine, mixing colors will gum up to horrible internal mess. If decide to drain & flush-Radiator drain plug reported to break easily. (Not always just too many)Good idea to Remove lower hose & replace clamps with screw type(worm gear).** recommended every 2y**

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Mike, what do you think about this flammable fluid leaking from the black pipe under the chassis? Is that the fuel tank vent?:bowdown:

Some folks have done the "cannisterectomy" (there are vids for this.) I personally re-routed the gas line to above the highest point and solved the issue .... see my album for pics ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Mikey]

When you gas up, do you top it off full?

 

[Marek]

Thank you all for your help and advice. So, dripping from the pipe is certainly the result of filling the tank completely "under the cap". I will avoid this. Overflowing coolant is the result of excess coolant in the expansion tank. The only thing left is the increased pressure when unscrewing the cap when the engine is cold. Maybe it's the cork's fault or maybe that's how it should be. I didn't notice this before.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thank you all for your help and advice. So, dripping from the pipe is certainly the result of filling the tank completely "under the cap". I will avoid this. Overflowing coolant is the result of excess coolant in the expansion tank. The only thing left is the increased pressure when unscrewing the cap when the engine is cold. Maybe it's the cork's fault or maybe that's how it should be. I didn't notice this before.

This was a DESIGN flaw when they created the early 998 gas tank system, which was later corrected. I did mine as in my album pics and never had another problem with it... Good luck ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Mikey]

With the coolant tank, make sure you're putting the cap on all the way it has a stop about halfway around that will give you the thought that you have it on tight, but it's not. Ask me how I know that little fun fact!!!

 

[Marek]

With the coolant tank, make sure you're putting the cap on all the way it has a stop about halfway around that will give you the thought that you have it on tight, but it's not. Ask me how I know that little fun fact!!!

You probably didn't tighten the cap once and it popped