Coolant swoosh!

Post by **318mike** » 04 Mar 2013, 12:32

94 850 140k na.Whenever I start the car put it in drive and accelerate I get a sound that I can only descibe as water (coolant) rushing(swoosh) through the fire wall or the heater core.It only lasts for a second or two,but its loud.I guess this sounds strange,but its the best description I can give....thanks in advance

Post by **Ben850** » 04 Mar 2013, 13:01

I am imagining water under your front cowling in front of the windshield. If you don't have a cabin air filter, it might also find its way into the fan area.
You might check to see if the drains are clogged from the cowling area.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 04 Mar 2013, 17:57

318mike wrote:94 850 140k na.Whenever I start the car put it in drive and accelerate I get a sound that I can only descibe as water (coolant) rushing(swoosh) through the fire wall or the heater core.It only lasts for a second or two,but its loud.I guess this sounds strange,but its the best description I can give....thanks in advance

My 96 used to do the exact same thing.

Post by **318mike** » 05 Mar 2013, 13:46

Pulled off the cowling,no water anywhere that I could see.Its really strange but it only happens on the first time I accelerate after startup.The rush of water sounds like its being forced under pressure,like a sudden rush of water through a garden hose.

anmartin44 · Post by **anmartin44** » 05 Mar 2013, 14:01

Have you recently drained the coolant and refilled? Every time I have changed a radiator in one of these it has done that on he first test drive. the heater core has to fill up and I believe that sound is the water pump pushing water thru the system. Just been my experience.

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Mar 2013, 14:08

My car did that for years until I changed the heater core.

Heat always worked just fine.

Post by **318mike** » 05 Mar 2013, 14:19

It sounds like the area of the heater core,but I wonder what is actually happening,the sound of the water rushing through it has caught the attention of passengers in the car,its loud!!

Post by **318mike** » 05 Mar 2013, 14:20

Hey JB why did you change that heater core?

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Mar 2013, 14:29

It started leaking (don't think that was the cause of the sound; just something that happens to all of these cars).

If you've never done a coolant flush, this may be an excellent time. Drain the engine block, heater core hoses, and radiator. Start the car with the expansion tank cap off, let it run up to temp, and refill the reservoir when the thermostat opens.