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96 2.2L OBW puking coolant while idling

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Hi all,

My brother has a 96 2.2L OBW that is puking coolant out the OF tank. This problem only seems to occur while idling. The temp gauge does spike while idling, too. He says the problem goes away while driving.

 

 

Your thoughts appreciated....

 

 

--Damien

Hi all,

My brother has a 96 2.2L OBW that is puking coolant out the OF tank. This problem only seems to occur while idling. The temp gauge does spike while idling, too. He says the problem goes away while driving.[...]

Simple possibilities are that the radiator fan isn't operating, or the radiator airflow is partially obstructed. When driving, air moves through the grill and past the radiator, making fan operation or a partial obstruction less critical.

a 96 OBW should have a 2.5 in it right, not a 2.2. was the engine swapped or is it an OBS?

 

like mentioned, are the fans coming on?

thermostat could be stuck?

any history on this car or mileage info?

a 96 OBW should have a 2.5 in it right, not a 2.2. was the engine swapped or is it an OBS?

 

 

'96 manual's are 2.2's,auto's are 2.5's.

<<The temp gauge does spike while idling, too.>>

 

why do people let this happen?

<<The temp gauge does spike while idling, too.>>

 

why do people let this happen?

Because they want to become members of the "replace the headgaskets" club? :rolleyes:
Because they want to become members of the "replace the headgaskets" club? :rolleyes:

 

 

+1 :)

Does he have heat when this happens? If no heat then its an air pocket of some kind (ie blown HG). If he has heat then its a radiator/fan issue.

 

PS dont let it over heat.

 

nipper

  • Author

Vehicle has 176k miles on it. Bubbling and foaming in the OF tank. Coolant a cloudy color. Temp gauge is steady but hotter than normal. Both cooling fans work.

 

I'm thinking blown HG but it's an EJ22...

 

--Damien

Any engine at any time can blow a HG, period (especially past 150,000 miles).

 

Does the car have heat, thats a huge question.

 

Someone needs to monitor the car with th cap off. If there is a lot of bubbles in the coolant after the car burps (thermostat opens) then you have a bad HG.

 

HAs he had any work done to the car recently?

 

nipper

  • Author

You mean with the radiator cap off or the cap to the OF tank?

 

After driving the car a few miles and then stopping and idling I inspected the OF tank and noticed there was a LOT of foam in the OF tank and a constant steady bubbling which continued after the engine was shut off...

cap off the radoator, but the more you talk the more it sounds like a HG

 

nipper

i think your beyond that ...

But it should work.

 

if you have bubbles then you have a blown HG. The test described is when its doubtful or comes and goes.

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