When I got home from driving my car today I noticed some anti freeze coming out of the overflow tube. When I opened the hood I noticed some around the radiator cap and in one of the "swells" on the top of the radiator. It hasnt done that before so I am wondering if I need a new cap or could I have the radiator filled too much (its all the way up to the top)?

If the cap is releasing pressure once its stopped could that cause it to overflow some and like I said before there was some fluid on top of the radiator and around the cap.

Thanks for all comments!

Marshall

 

could be over heating id go to to napa and buy a stander temp gauge not an electric and screw it into you block and ull be able to tell the temp since it has number instead on the bad original gauges

 

I had that problem too, for me it was the radiator cap, but it could also be something else. Another simple problem is the thermostat. Check your rad cap though and see if the seal is worn out or cracked. If it is spend the 20 or so dollars to get a new one.

 

I had a cap prob last year. When I got a new cap, prob solved.

Caps are cheap; start there.

CP

 

You say you've got it filled to the top... that's too full. Should be just full enough to cover the top of the blasted piece inside the rad that I can't remember the name for right now with about 1/2" of coolant. That allows room for coolant expansion at temperature. Alternately, you can just keep running it until it stops coming out the overflow, let it cool off and that will be as full as it should be. Either way, full to the top is too much.

 

yeah most likely your t-stat or cap. Does your gauge show overheating??

 

like above,,, fill the radiator to the top expect it to over flow when hot, you need a overflow tank,,, all newer than 1960's car have them and for a good reason,,,once the engine cools down the system will suck the "over flow" back into the system nothing out of the ordinairy in your issue unless the radiator is half empty after running hot,,in that case you have other issues going on

 

Thanks for all the comments.

The person that sold me the car says the temp gauge didnt work but I am pretty sure that it does b/c it will move when the car is cranked up but it has never shown hot.

I probably do have it too full and I might want to get a overflow tank. I will start with the cap anyway because I dont know when the last time it was replaced but it probably will correct itself once enough fluid comes out from being too full.

Can I buy a tank at NAPA or a place like that?

 

The system won't operate properly without an overflow tank. The pressure from the heat will cause a quart + to escape from your rad. When it cools, it needs to return or you will be too low on coolant to run.

Also, never use straight water. Coolant is always better, even if you have a alum rad. If your system is still running hot, it could be your stat, but rust clogged tubes are common in old radiators. Flushing your system is good PM.

Let us know if this and the new cap fixes the prob.

CP

 

Will do.

The tubes look new and the anti freeze looks clean and is good because I used test strips to check it. I bought a new cap but I havent had a chance just yet to run it on the road. I looked at overflow tanks at advanced auto.. I am just wondering if I will have enough room next to the radiator to put it in