S13 blacktop burning coolant

[Tkoppab]

Whats up guys. Have an issue with my s13 blacktop. Radiator messed up so i replaced it. But since i did the car has been burning coolant. No oil mixed with water but still burns through it. My upper radiator hose is hard after it has warmed up and the lower hose seems cold. Trying to figure out if its a blown headgasket.

Did a compression test but all the cylinders read 90 but i think it was just a bad tester from vatozone. Could this be a bad turbo since the car doesnt heat up? Maybe a bad thermostat? Help! Lol cant pinpoint it

[Javi802]

is the upper hose hot? A stuck closed thermostat will cause overheating. Which, if your lower hose were cold and upper hot, would indicate its stuck closed. You're saying the engine doesn't get warm though.


And ive rented compression testers from autozone. Theyre actually decent. At least the ones ive rented were. Try a different tester.

[Javi802]

Bad turbo wouldn't make the engine not heat up.

When you say youre burning coolant, are you actually burning coolant? Like, oyu can smell/see it coming from the exhaust?

[wangan_cruiser]

worst comes to worst is your headgasket is partially blown.

[bmxer882x]

If I remember correctly 90 seems low. Take out all the spark plugs and do the test on each cylinder. If you leave the plugs in the cylinders could have a leak across them and it say the compression is good.

[Tkoppab]

Yeah im going to try another tester.

Yeah i drove it and no fluid was visible in the radiator. Found it strange that the upper hose got so hot and hard.

Its blowing out whiteish smoke after it warms up.

Took all the plugs out and tested it that way. Was at 90 all the way through. So partially blown hg isnt out of the question :(

Should i replace the turbo to see if its bad? I have a feeling thats the issue. But any advice is greatly appreciated. I can still hear the turbo and it stills boosts so im stuck on what to do. Need it running by next weekend with no issues

[Tkoppab]

No overheating and no milkshake in the oil which has me stumped.

[Javi802]

get another tester and test compression again. If its 90 as well, don't even worry about whether the turbo is bad or not. Its gonna be time for a rebuild/and or head gasket. I believe the minimum for our srs is 128psi

[blksylv]

did you do the compression test with the throttle wide open and was the motor at operating temperature?

[cotbu]

A partially blown headgasket is an oxymoron!
It either blown or it isn't. If you mean coolant is leaking but not oil or compression its still blown.

So you either determine, if its the headgasket or not.
Fill you radiator with coolant or water. Take off the hose that goes to the reservoir add compressed air, look for leaks on the outside of the engine. If you find no leaks. Remove the spark plugs check the cylinders for coolant or water. Still no water or coolant check the oil pan. Still no coolant or water? It's a real mystery!
There are other test that or less invasive like a hydrocarbon test or a leakdown, but a compression test isn't one of them. With 90psi, and though even across the board, i would consider a rebuild. If verified with another tester.
When you do tests any of them, they have to be performed correctly. Or the results are useless.

If you are driving the car still you risk more expensive repairs, the head can be warped or cracked. Thats just one. Find out where your coolant is going!

Sent from my Highly Tuned Note4!!!

[Tkoppab]

Thanks guys. Going to diagnose more today and put the results up later tonight. Keep ya posted