Cooling Problem, help ?

[Gerald]

Drove car yesterday, got VERY hot almost to the poing of overheating and I was like "huh??". Luckily there was a garage near, pulled in and expexted to see radiator hose off, leaking or something of that matter or belt slipping or broken.

None of the above. I looked in the tank under the hood (resevoir or overflow, I always forget) and it was EMPTY. How'd that happen? I'm not leaking anywhere, no coolant in the oil, no dripping, nothing. I mean, I was waaay down on coolant, put a gallon in. After I put coolant in, car ran cooler than it EVER did. NExt day, started to get hot again, and needed more coolant.

I'm perplexed. Could it have been a huuuuge bubble finally burped? any ideas? Car is running a ---little---- warmer than usual, probably 5-10 degrees past the center tick. strange..

Gerald

 

[Iceman]

I have been researching cooling issues lately and one suggestion I can make is try the Redline WaterWetter. It's supposed to lower the engine temperature by 30 degrees.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Gerald,

have you checked your water pump? Is it leaking through the weep hole? You could be losing coolant a little bit at a time and when your car cools off, it ***** it from your tank each time which would cause you to have a low level situation and not show any leaking on the floor.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Gerald,

have you checked your water pump? Is it leaking through the weep hole? You could be losing coolant a little bit at a time and when your car cools off, it ***** it from your tank each time which would cause you to have a low level situation and not show any leaking on the floor.

Hey G, if your losing coolent with no real indication, ab might just be correct(for once ), Check the weep hole for fluid.

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Hey G, if your losing coolent with no real indication, ab might just be correct(for once ), Check the weep hole for fluid.

Hey Mike eat me! LOL!...oops back on topic!

Water wetter has done nothing that I have seen that is even worth buying. I'm starting to think it's snaike oil..but that is my opinion from my experience.

 

[95Viper]

Iceman, That's completely untrue. 30 degrees? Not going to happen with WaterWetter.

The only product I know that really works is Zerex Racing Super Coolant. This allows you to use distilled water in place of ethyline glycol (I have no idea how to spell that but it's the stuff in antifreeze) and it gives you all the corrosion protection. Problem is it does not give you any freeze protection so you need to be careful. bottom line though is it works.

 

[Iceman]

I live in South Florida so frezing is the least of my concerns.

I only read about the Wetter product. I have not tried it. I am going to research your suggestion and see if I can try it.

 

[Iceman]

Here is an interesting comparison I ran into:

http://www.wc101.com/reviews/Additives/

So Zerex Racing Super Coolant seems to be it.

 

[STUGOTS]

Where do they sell Zerex?

How many degrees can it drop?

 

[95Viper]

It's was a pain to get when I searched for it but it was just coming out. Search the internet because I hear it's more available now. I doubt you can get it at a store.

 

[XS TORQ]

I have had a cracked thermostat housing (twice!) that has cased me to lose fluid. Don't know if the housing is the same (in my opinion crappy) design on the Gen II as Gen I.

 

[Ulysses]

Don't know if the housing is the same (in my opinion crappy) design on the Gen II as Gen I.

for some odd reason the gen I has two different part numbers for coupe versus convertible

Gen I part Number"
Coupe 4763 779 Convertible 5245 521

Gen II
4763 779

 

[Gerald Levin]

I'd bet those Gen I coupes are a little rare. Haven't seen too many around.

 

[Larry Macedo]

If your not leaking coolant, you could be consuming our sweet green toxic friend. What year is your Viper, Gerald? The Gen II does not have a crossover type thermostat arrangement like the Gen I sports.

 

[Ulysses]

I'd bet those Gen I coupes are a little rare. Haven't seen too many around.

DUH! What was I thinking! I need to get more sleep!