coolant problem
04-06-2009, 08:48 PM
#3
2nd Gear Member
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: el paso tx
Posts: 457
the rad cap is new i replaced it cause i thought that was the problem also but i guess not since i installed the 180 thermo my temp does not pass the first line after 130 the highest ive seen the needle go was atleast two lines after the 130 but thats when it had atleast squirted out about 2 or 3 cups of coolant, yesterday i was driving for about 5 miles non stop and when i got to the stop my needle slowly was going up till it reached the second to the last line and thats where it stopped but once i got speed needle started to go down again then i got to friends house and notice a mess of coolant that was squirting out of reserve tank and when i check reserve tank it was full like if coolant is overflowing the reserve and squirting it out
04-07-2009, 12:46 AM
#6
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: el paso tx
Posts: 457
for about how long should i leave car running with rad cap off to bleed it cause ive left it for about 5 mins just idling with cap off and nothing burps out and my heater is not hooked up so i cant tell if heat is coming out hot. I have no coolant in oil or oil in coolant how else can i find out if i have a blown head gasket, and how can i do a block check.
04-07-2009, 06:54 AM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 823
There are only 3 reasons a car will do this.
1. Bad radiator cap. The spring gets weak over time and under normal coolant system pressure, it will lift and allow coolant to flow into the overlfow tank.
2. Over heating. If the engine gets too hot because of a bad thermostat, air in the system or a clogged radiator, the pressure will build beyond what the cap is rated and pump coolant into the overflow tank.
3. Blown head gasket between a cylinder and the water jacket. Cylinder compression pressures are MUCH higher than coolant system pressures, so with each compression stroke of that cylinder, it over pressurizes the cooling system beyond what the radiator cap is rated and pumps coolant out into the overflow tank.
You said the cap is new and the car isn't overheating... so prepare yourself to change the head gaskets. And no, you won't have any oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil if the gasket is only blown between a cylinder and the water jacket. There is a test to see if you're getting exhaust gases in the coolant though. Many, but not all, garages have the equipment to perform that test, so find one that does so you can be certain that's the problem before tearing into the engine.
1. Bad radiator cap. The spring gets weak over time and under normal coolant system pressure, it will lift and allow coolant to flow into the overlfow tank.
2. Over heating. If the engine gets too hot because of a bad thermostat, air in the system or a clogged radiator, the pressure will build beyond what the cap is rated and pump coolant into the overflow tank.
3. Blown head gasket between a cylinder and the water jacket. Cylinder compression pressures are MUCH higher than coolant system pressures, so with each compression stroke of that cylinder, it over pressurizes the cooling system beyond what the radiator cap is rated and pumps coolant out into the overflow tank.
You said the cap is new and the car isn't overheating... so prepare yourself to change the head gaskets. And no, you won't have any oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil if the gasket is only blown between a cylinder and the water jacket. There is a test to see if you're getting exhaust gases in the coolant though. Many, but not all, garages have the equipment to perform that test, so find one that does so you can be certain that's the problem before tearing into the engine.
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