hey guys as some of you may know i bought a mx83 cressida for my partner to get around in. i hadnt really taken much notice but it seems to be using a bit more water than usual, and the reservoir fills up to the top.......and doesnt go back into the radiator when it cools. I'm pretty sure it isnt a blown head gasket, which was my first thought, since the car still runs and drives as well as the day i bought it. are there any other reasons why this could be happening? its a 7m-ge too. any help would be great. cheers brendan

seams like exhaust gases are escaping into the coolant. do a TK test to comfirm (checks for carbon monoxide in coolant)

 

does the coolant have a dark tint to it?

Does it have a cap? If so, replace it.

It's a 7M, a blown headgasket is always a possibility (and could have had it for a while). I'd definitely do further tests (TK, compression etc) before ruling it out.

When u rev it does it make a rushing water sound under the dash?

 

If the coolant doesn't return when cool I'm going 100 percent for a bhg sorry

Make sure it has a thermostat then start it up one morning without the radiator cap on and the rad fill.

 

Let it idle for 10 or 15min & if the HG is leaking you will get the water flowing out of the rad all over your feet, as the bubble push it around backwards because they can't get past the t'stat. Once the t'stat opens all is fine as the gas bubbles leak out via the overflow bottle.

 

A six will run much smoother with a leaking gasket than a 4cyl. Look for a lazy cyl by pulling off the plug leads one by one or hook a compressor up and do a leak-down test of each cyl.

 

 

7m-H2o=BHG

well she has lasted this long :D until not long ago when it started running on 5 cyl and sucking the water down like a sieve. in the process of replacing hg and head studs so will post some pics of progress

Would have been wise to replace it back then to reduce the risk of stuffing the head, did you have the head skimmed and crack tested? Doesn't cost much at all.

Plan to once the head is out dude, hopefully getting it out tonight and getting it ready to send to machinist tomorrow. Anyone done of these before, and any tips or hints?