Plain Jane OEM nothing to see here rebuild

[JustJeff]

Engine is torn down. What does a failed coolant seal physically look like? I didn't find any blown out coolant walls. I didn't find any seals broken in half, but I did find two inner coolant seals shreaded quite easily. But that seemed almost normal for the inner.


I have not started cleaning parts yet and snapped some pics of what I think are suspicious looking coolant seals still in the grooves.


This spot was splitting at the seam, but also at the bottom of the pic.


Something bad did happen while transporting the engine after the flywheel and front bolt had been broken free. Engine came free of it's restraints and rolled in the back of the van. I'll get some pics tomorrow of my front and rear iron for opinions.

[RETed]

Can you take a wide angle view of the entire surface of the irons?
Sometimes you can see a discoloration in the area of the coolant leak...


-Ted

[RETed]

Originally Posted by JustJeff

I didn't find any seals broken in half, but I did find two inner coolant seals shreaded quite easily. But that seemed almost normal for the inner.

Yes.
Typically, the stock inner water jacket o-rings tend to "delam" when removed. The inner, orange stuff is silicone.
The outer white "liner" is Teflon?
The two materials don't adhere to each other too well.

One side note...
Mazda recommends putting the "seam" of the inner water jacket o-ring seal toward the intake port.
At this location, this is the area where that seal sees the least amount of stress - heat and pressure.
I noticed that you got your seams in approximately the 12 o'clock position almost dead top.

I have not started cleaning parts yet and snapped some pics of what I think are suspicious looking coolant seals still in the grooves.

In general, you don't usually worry about them, although the one pic with the longer "cut" in it is kinda weird.
The seal has no where to go, so as long as the tear doesn't grow, the seal should stay intact.

Something bad did happen while transporting the engine after the flywheel and front bolt had been broken free. Engine came free of it's restraints and rolled in the back of the van. I'll get some pics tomorrow of my front and rear iron for opinions.

You talking about that "smear" toward the center of the iron?
Does it pass the fingernail test?
Can you tell it's a depression by running your fingertip over it?


-Ted