1991 Mazda Miata radiator fluid leak

PNUBTHEGREAT

MEMBER
1991 MAZDA MIATA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
189,000 MILES

I just bought a 1991 mazda miata mx5, with 189000 miles on it. I drove home, then went back to the dealership where I purchased it to get my other vehicle, when I drove home again, the car lagging when I pressed the gas. I then noticed the temperature guage rising really fast, so I pulled over and could here a boiling sound coming from the front of the car. I popped the hood, and saw that radiator fluid was spilling all over the ground. I thought I had bursted a line in the bottom, but upon further inspection it seemed the hose was fine. The leak finally stopped as the engined cooled from being off. What could be the culprit?

1 Reply

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

Well the overheating proably cause the engine to loose the power.

I would change the thermostat, it is probably stuck closed. Also when the car is started and ran for a bit does the upper and lower radiator hose get to the same temperature. If the bottom one is cold and the upper one is hot and the thermostat was replaced properly then check the the water pump's fins and see if they have been eaten away.