skoalring11
Pro
Hey guys,
So at the end of last season I had a stud go thru my heat exchanger on the trail. At the time I didn't know why
the sled was overheating so I rode it about 5 miles back to the camp.
So I has the heat exchanger welded and tonight I started it for the first time. I drained the oil and everything looked
fine but I did notice that there was what looked like a few drops of coolant at the tailpipe. I went in for a smell and sure
enough it smelt like burnt coolant.
Any ideas what could be wrong? Could this be caused from overheating? Am I over analyzing?
So at the end of last season I had a stud go thru my heat exchanger on the trail. At the time I didn't know why
the sled was overheating so I rode it about 5 miles back to the camp.
So I has the heat exchanger welded and tonight I started it for the first time. I drained the oil and everything looked
fine but I did notice that there was what looked like a few drops of coolant at the tailpipe. I went in for a smell and sure
enough it smelt like burnt coolant.
Any ideas what could be wrong? Could this be caused from overheating? Am I over analyzing?
AttakDog
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Good chance you blew the head gasket when you overheated. Most likely way for coolant to get into the exhaust.
raginyamaha
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possibly warped the head/block too if it got really hot. GL fixin
canoehead
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X2raginyamaha said:
skoalring11
Pro
If I do a pressure test would that tell me if its leaking into the cylinders?
I am thinking some coolant could have possibly spilled on the header causing the smell.
I am thinking some coolant could have possibly spilled on the header causing the smell.
gmfamily2008
Pro
chances are good there are other problems if you rode 5 miles with no coolant , usually temp lite doesn't come on if there is no hot coolant to set it off and by the time the air in the block gets hot enough to set it off its too late. Warped head and/or head gasket would be a good guess. Good Luck with it
raginyamaha
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pressure test overnite and take spark plugs out and look in with a borescope, if see coolant id take the head off and check for warpage.
Beenba
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Doing just a compression test will not show much. You need to do a leak down test in this case.
Read up about a leak down test (i dont feel like explaining it....in short terms you put a piston at TDC aka all valves are closed and pressurize the cylinder through the spark plug hole), and most importantly when your doing it if you see your coolant bubbling, your head gasket is gone. (aka the air in your cylinders is going into the coolant passages.)
And if you head gasket is gone, your engine may need decked if warped..it doesn't take much to mess things up! IMO a full inspection of valve seats, valves, bore, pistons is on order if things got that hot.
Hearing stories like this makes me want to install a oil cooler. It may have just got you that 5 minutes you needed with no coolant.
Read up about a leak down test (i dont feel like explaining it....in short terms you put a piston at TDC aka all valves are closed and pressurize the cylinder through the spark plug hole), and most importantly when your doing it if you see your coolant bubbling, your head gasket is gone. (aka the air in your cylinders is going into the coolant passages.)
And if you head gasket is gone, your engine may need decked if warped..it doesn't take much to mess things up! IMO a full inspection of valve seats, valves, bore, pistons is on order if things got that hot.
Hearing stories like this makes me want to install a oil cooler. It may have just got you that 5 minutes you needed with no coolant.
skoalring11
Pro
looks like its time for a trade in 
It could just be moisture in the exhaust.Just because it smells like coolant doesnt mean it is.Run it for awhile see if coolant goes down.If its leaking that much into the exhaust it would smoke like mad.I would not sell my sled till I was sure there was a issue.Most of the tests mentioned would ensure that and a coolant pressure test will also test your repair.
Beenba
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^ I agree. It will be very white if it is coolant burning/steaming up. Let the sled idle for a good 5-6 mins, and then blip the throttle a few good times, if no white comes out, I wouldn't sweat it. Even the smallest headgasket leak will make the exhaust gas very white in color.
