Big cloud of steam | FerrariChat

Big cloud of steam

Discussion in '308/328' started by mondialfan, Jul 21, 2008.

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  1. mondialfan

    mondialfan Karting

    Jan 1, 2007
    53
    Gainesville, FL
    Full Name:
    Rick
    #1 mondialfan, Jul 21, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2008
    I'm doing my normal Sunday drive which is about 20 miles through Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach yesterday in my 1989 Mondial T Coupe. Things are warmed up nicely,
    not too hot as its about 7pm, still about an hour of daylight left. Gauges look good right in the temperature zone. Then I see a cloud of steam behind me and the smell of
    coolant. I just pulled out of Shelton Ferrari's parking lot, which is part of the weekly ritual. Any way, I coast into Red Lobster's parking lot and drive all the way to the back lot and call AAA. While waiting, I see a nice big puddle of coolant under the engine.

    Mind you, I just had the major service a few months and about 500 miles ago. All the hoses were changed during the service.

    Today, I try pouring some water into the expansion tank and the water with some coolant just starts draining out the bottom of the car again. I grab a flashlight and try to see if I can spot the source of the leak. After a while I see the culprit, its a hole in one of the hoses. This goes into the motor (from the rear bumper side) to the right of the gearbox and above the right drive shaft. Remember this is the T Coupe so the engine is longitudinal with the ''t'' gearbox.

    My question is what causes the rupture/tear/hole in a brand new hose? Faulty hose? Possibly nicked during installation? Or could it be another issue like excess pressure? The hole was about 2 inches from the clamp so it wasn't directly near the clamp that you could say cut into the rubber.

    Its in a spot where the car needs a lift to replace the hose, glad it seems to be minor but hate needing to get it towed to Tim Stanfords, have him put coolant back in etc if I can just do this at home.
     
  2. Robb

    Robb Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Feb 28, 2004
    14,363
    Full Name:
    Robb
    Well that's a total bummer. Glad you caught it before getting too far.

    Hopefully a quick fix and something your mechanic will help out on...

    Robb
     
  3. CFCARRIAGE

    CFCARRIAGE Formula Junior

    Jun 9, 2006
    598
    Missouri
    Full Name:
    Dave
    Probably a defective hose. Not sure what it could have got nicked by during installation. Did you drive over anything? road debris?

    My Mondial T will purge some coolant if I overfill the tank. She like to be left about an inch from the top, No more. She would only drip about an ounce or so "after" a drive, until the fluid got down to that point in the tank and then just stop dripping all together.

    Best of luck with her.

    Dave

    PS
    If you see Dom say hi to him for me.
     

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