R33 Overflow Bottle

[SiR_RB]

now this has been goin on for afew months, and knowing that my old radiator had a slight leak, i didnt think much of it.

anywayz last week i bought a 40mm aluminium radiator from just jap and did a full collant change.

after topping up, bleeding it properly etc i decided to check the level afew days later. overflow bottle was between MAX and MIN, so i topped it up thinkin that maybe i didnt fill the radiator to the top durin the change.

just noticed today theres no water in the overflow bottle !?

i am not leakin any coolant, il take the car for a good drive then look under the car and nothin is dripping, hose clamps r nice n tight. doesnt look like anything is coming from the water pump either

engine oil is clean as, did a service 4 weeks ago and the whole amount of engine oil did come back out (after 6000 odd kms), no signs of water in the oil

what could it be?? any help fellas would be great !!

[our12]

Although you have checked when you turn the engine off you may be leaking water from one of the hoses under the plenum. We have a problem with an rb26 where it doesnt leak when driving however approx 3-4 minutes after switching off we get a leak- not much it would seem to be coming from a line and the leak is dependant on the radiator pressure (as the pressure drops it leaks).

Get some cardboard and when you next stop slide it under the engine you may have a similar problem.

[SiR_RB]

will check that one out

thanks

[RBwhatever]

Mine empties really quick too. Don't know where it goes

[SiR_RB]

i checked mine after a 30min drive, the car must of been sittin for 5 - 10mins, still cnt see any leaks or anything

very strange.....

[Ultimategtr]

Just a wild question - How did you bleed it?

Reason why i ask, is because in the manual it states to bring up the engine temp up and turn the heater on 32*celsius and all.

However some mechanics claim its best done when the engine is dead cold, with the engine off.

I have a similar issue that seems to have gone away now after i bled it over and over. The other thing to notice is that the overflow bottle has a hole in the top bit, so maybe while driving it manages to escape through there?(highly doubt it tho)

[SiR_RB]

i blead the system from the little screw on the top of the engine

had it undone until the car got to operating temp and the lil bubbles stopped comin out. didnt take longer then afew mins to blead it

if thats wrong, should i do try bleading it again? how exactly do i do it? while the car is hot, or start it when cold and let it idle until at operating temp while the screw is undone??

thanks

[SiR_RB]

ok i herd that my problem could be the radiator cap

i noticed when i put it on the my new radiator that it still had abit of movement and wasnt sealing 100%, so i bent the little tabs on the cap abit so it can tighten up once i do it up

now i also herd the pressure rating could be wrong?

im goin to buy a new radiator cap, wot pressure ratin do they hav to have?

buy a nismo one? (but very $$)

or just ask for a stock replacement?

[SiR_RB]

duno wot brand my cap is but has 1.1 stamped on it

im assuming 1.1 bar?

[nuffsaid]

your water pump leaking?

[Nimmo]

I had a similar problem and found it was a hair line fracture in the cooling line going to the turbo the little one at the back of the block.

Sorry not very descriptive I'm not a mechanic, if you want I can take a picture and post it for you.

[wins_wbe]

maybe you got blown head gasket mate..

is the reservoir bottle bubbling after 20 to 30 mins drive?

pressure test will determine the problem mate..

[Humbla]

Try changing the radiator cap first,could be an easy fix.

[Ultimategtr]

Just replace the cap with an OEM item. The Nismo Items are good, however you have to consider that they are rated higher pressures, around 18 psi i think? As opposed to the stock which is 15psi? This will cause MORE strain on the radiator hoses, considering most skylines run the factory hoses which are rusty and "weak" and as a result, the Nismo cap MAY cause the pipes to burst/leak.

Ideally if you changed the hoses to SAMCO or some other stronger item, the Nismo caps would be better.

If you can, try opening the cover over the waterpump. If any sign of rust, then leaky waterpump!