Blew coolant out of my reserve cap on a 2 hour drive. Ideas?
04-27-2009, 07:33 PM
#1
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Blew coolant out of my reserve cap on a 2 hour drive. Ideas? Hey all,
Problem fixed
Problem fixed
Last edited by Tuffguy610; 04-20-2012 at 09:48 AM. Reason: fixed
04-27-2009, 07:45 PM
#2
Sticking t-stat. If it had stuck totally closed you would have obviously overheated badly, and quickly, even on the highway. Over pressure from the heat caused it to get pushed out into the overflow reservoir.
Unless there's a big bag or something stick in front of your condensor.
Thats my guess.
Unless there's a big bag or something stick in front of your condensor.
Thats my guess.
04-27-2009, 08:27 PM
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Thats what I was thinking. I suppose theres really nothing else that would impede the flow of coolant other than the thermostat and the rad cap. I just hope the pressure didnt get so bad that it cracked part of my radiator. I'll just drive the DD until I can pop my head under this car yet again....
04-27-2009, 09:25 PM
#4
Worse case scenario would be is if you have a minor head gasket leak that reared its head during the three runs.
Steam and compression into the closed coolant system can force the overflow to fill. Autozone is your friend to rent-for free the guage to test for that type of leak.
If that ends up being the problem - caddy pills might solve the head gasket leak.
A flush, new t-stat, and radiator cap will rule out if either of those two were bad.
A bad enough compression leak into the coolant can actually blow the over-flow cap right off the overflow tank. Seen that on the dyno after blowing a head gasket.
Tip: Make sure the rubber ends on the steam vent line existing from front of engine to a rubber hose into the radiator isn't loose or cracked causing air leaks into the system. Make sure the steam vent line and radiator overflow hoses haven't been flipped when connected to the radiator - easy to make the mistake and connect wrong.
Steam and compression into the closed coolant system can force the overflow to fill. Autozone is your friend to rent-for free the guage to test for that type of leak.
If that ends up being the problem - caddy pills might solve the head gasket leak.
A flush, new t-stat, and radiator cap will rule out if either of those two were bad.
A bad enough compression leak into the coolant can actually blow the over-flow cap right off the overflow tank. Seen that on the dyno after blowing a head gasket.
Tip: Make sure the rubber ends on the steam vent line existing from front of engine to a rubber hose into the radiator isn't loose or cracked causing air leaks into the system. Make sure the steam vent line and radiator overflow hoses haven't been flipped when connected to the radiator - easy to make the mistake and connect wrong.
04-27-2009, 09:26 PM
#5
Thats what I was thinking. I suppose theres really nothing else that would impede the flow of coolant other than the thermostat and the rad cap. I just hope the pressure didnt get so bad that it cracked part of my radiator. I'll just drive the DD until I can pop my head under this car yet again....
Thats what could have happened too. Maybe the t-stat is fine. Toss it in a pot of water, then turn on the heat. Stand there with a hand held thermometer in the water near the t-stat till it reaches the temp that the t-stat is rated at and see if it starts opening as the temp hits that range. The little dick on the t-stat will come out slowly.
Could just be a bad cap.
04-27-2009, 09:29 PM
#6
Worse case scenario would be is if you have a minor head gasket leak that reared its head during the three runs.
Steam and compression into the close coolant system can force the overflow to fill. Autozone is your friend to rent-for free the guage to test for that type of leak.
If that ends up being the problem - caddy pills might solve the head gasket leak.
A flush, new t-stat, and radiator cap will rule out if either of those two were bad.
A bad enough compression leak into the coolant can actually blow the over-flow cap right off the overflow tank. Seen that on the dyno after blowing a head gasket.
Steam and compression into the close coolant system can force the overflow to fill. Autozone is your friend to rent-for free the guage to test for that type of leak.
If that ends up being the problem - caddy pills might solve the head gasket leak.
A flush, new t-stat, and radiator cap will rule out if either of those two were bad.
A bad enough compression leak into the coolant can actually blow the over-flow cap right off the overflow tank. Seen that on the dyno after blowing a head gasket.
If you do that pressure test, make sure you remove all 8 spark plugs. If you do have a leak in a gasket you could fill a cylinder with water/coolant. Then when you go to start the engine you will hydro-lock it and the internals can get damaged or break. Make sure there's no water/coolant in any of the cylinders before you start it.
