Z32 Issues

[RoninMunky]

At a crossroads. Here is the short and sweet.

Cooling hoses went, one by one. Replaced all, bypassed those under the plenum.

Car overheated one day, cooling system under serious pressure.

Sent back to mechanic. Carbon check, positive.

No smoke, no milky oil, car runs very strong. Still positive for carbon.

Suggestion made for Blue Devil. Took suggestion.

No more overheating. Stays half way temp wise.

Fan clutch stays on at operating temp (half way up temp gauge). Replaced w/ non oem (I know, should only use oem).

Fan clutch issue continues.

Coolant gushing past rad cap, after the car is off, not all the time. Replaced old cap with a new. Same issue.

I believe the hg sealant may not have sealed, hard to tell, because car doesn't overheat anymore.

Feel like hg is still an issue. Crossroads are simple, ditch the car, get something else, or fix it. Only have about $1000-1300 expendable cash.

Not mechanically advanced.

1990 Nissan 300ZX 2+2
127,xxx miles

Help please.

[RoninMunky]

80 views, no ideas?

[ultimateirving]

The miles are low and its a good model you have, but your funds are limited and it depends on what you have the car for? a not so common z car of the 90's..
or a car you need to drive to work and cant afford to keep it whil it nickel and dimes you.

[supersayianjim]

whats a "carbon check"??

[RoninMunky]

whats a "carbon check"??

When you check the coolant for exhaust fumes I believe.

I drive like a grandma, and may drive 60 or so miles a week. Carpool when I can. I drive it because it looks great, and when it is running right it's great to drive. Just want it running right more often than it does.

[Jay Gadsby]

Have you bled the system? A simple, easy thing to do that is often over looked and can cause a shit ton of problems. Really easy to do. Take off the radiator cap and run for about 10 minutes. After I replaced my hoses, I forgot to do that and came up with all sorts of issues (overheating, fan on etc). Did as I mentioned above and BAM, no more issues.

If you still have problems, I would run a check on your compression. A large variance in numbers from cylinder to adjacent cylinder are a common sign with head gasket issues. Not mechanically difficult, and you can get the tool at Autozone and return for a full refund.

[Jay Gadsby]

Oh, and if you have not done your 120K kit, you will need to do that soon. The OEM timing belts and tensioners are only good for 60K or so. Need to be replaced at those intervals, or you will have more than just overheating issues since the VG30 is an INTERFERENCE engine. Meaning, your valves will slap your pistons if your belt breaks.

[RoninMunky]

Oh, and if you have not done your 120K kit, you will need to do that soon. The OEM timing belts and tensioners are only good for 60K or so. Need to be replaced at those intervals, or you will have more than just overheating issues since the VG30 is an INTERFERENCE engine. Meaning, your valves will slap your pistons if your belt breaks.

Appreciate it bro. Just dropped it off to have the hg done, timing belt, and water pump done as well.

Hopefully it'll be running like a champ.

[Jay Gadsby]

Awesome, hope it all works out for you. Good luck and let us know the outcome.

[RoninMunky]

Will do. Should be done tomorrow.

Believes there is a kink in the headgasket. The car blew a hg before, and heads were replaced in the process (before I bought it) due to water getting in the engine. Half a## job I think.

Should have it back tomorrow night. Will update when I geta chance.