Radiator working properly? Simple question, help?
#1
Radiator working properly? Simple question, help?
Ok, probably a stupid question. I was "tinkering" under the hood...........imagine that. the car was near stone cold (was driven couple hours earlier)
I opened the radiator cap, and some antifreeze sprayed out. Just a quick second once the cap was twisted enough to let it out. Odd for a car when it's cold?
I was driving somewhere yesterday, and saw some antifreeze start to collect on the windshield (droplets). I pulled over, and saw some more fluid on and near the radiator cap. Tightened the cap drove off. When I stopped at a light, the steam would start to come out the hood vent.
When I stopped at a light, I would have to wait 15 seconds, before the steam would start to be visable.
I am not sure if this is normal or not, I opened the radiator cap with the motor running and the car "Hot". the fluid would rise and spill out of the radiator where the cap was. I put my finger in the hole ( ) to "lower" the fluid level in the radiator, and the fluid would gradually come back up and leak out again, no matter how many times I "lowered the level" with the cap off the radiator.
Is this normal? We all remember filling up a low radiator cap off, car running, the fluid would NOT rise like that, and spill out. Is there a problem with the thermostat or something? The temp gauge is in the normal range in the car..........if I trust it. I have no dash lights, so maybe the gauge is off.
I am not sure why this just happened out of the blue, and with the radiator cap off, and if I squeeze the upper radiator hose, the fluid comes out more (THAT is normal I believe). Is this the longest post about a simple radiator problem? Anyway, your collective brains can help me figure this one out. Sound normal? If not, what is it? Thanks in advance, as always.
I opened the radiator cap, and some antifreeze sprayed out. Just a quick second once the cap was twisted enough to let it out. Odd for a car when it's cold?
I was driving somewhere yesterday, and saw some antifreeze start to collect on the windshield (droplets). I pulled over, and saw some more fluid on and near the radiator cap. Tightened the cap drove off. When I stopped at a light, the steam would start to come out the hood vent.
When I stopped at a light, I would have to wait 15 seconds, before the steam would start to be visable.
I am not sure if this is normal or not, I opened the radiator cap with the motor running and the car "Hot". the fluid would rise and spill out of the radiator where the cap was. I put my finger in the hole ( ) to "lower" the fluid level in the radiator, and the fluid would gradually come back up and leak out again, no matter how many times I "lowered the level" with the cap off the radiator.
Is this normal? We all remember filling up a low radiator cap off, car running, the fluid would NOT rise like that, and spill out. Is there a problem with the thermostat or something? The temp gauge is in the normal range in the car..........if I trust it. I have no dash lights, so maybe the gauge is off.
I am not sure why this just happened out of the blue, and with the radiator cap off, and if I squeeze the upper radiator hose, the fluid comes out more (THAT is normal I believe). Is this the longest post about a simple radiator problem? Anyway, your collective brains can help me figure this one out. Sound normal? If not, what is it? Thanks in advance, as always.
#4
Evolved Member
iTrader: (33)
Possible air bubbles in the system??
Try letting the car warm up and go through a couple cycles (the radiator fan will come on then go off) and if you see any bubbles in the opening of the radiator cap, then that probably was your problem.
Or could be the radiator cap, is it OEM?
And I doubt that it is the thermostat...
Try letting the car warm up and go through a couple cycles (the radiator fan will come on then go off) and if you see any bubbles in the opening of the radiator cap, then that probably was your problem.
Or could be the radiator cap, is it OEM?
And I doubt that it is the thermostat...
#5
Possible air bubbles in the system??
Try letting the car warm up and go through a couple cycles (the radiator fan will come on then go off) and if you see any bubbles in the opening of the radiator cap, then that probably was your problem.
Or could be the radiator cap, is it OEM?
And I doubt that it is the thermostat...
Try letting the car warm up and go through a couple cycles (the radiator fan will come on then go off) and if you see any bubbles in the opening of the radiator cap, then that probably was your problem.
Or could be the radiator cap, is it OEM?
And I doubt that it is the thermostat...
#6
Evolved Member
I have a new radiator pressure tester gizmo and when I did the 30,000 mile service on my '03 I checked the radiator pressure cap and it flunked - it wouldn't hold pressure. This didn't cause any symptoms like you describe or any symptoms at all. Still, for optimum cooling you need a pressure cap that is working. So, for people who don't have a tester and this would be most people, I suggest you add this item to your 30,000 mile parts list.
Since the flow in the radiator is from top to bottom the upper tank will fill every time the thermostat opens. So, it is normal for the level to go up and down if the engine is warm enough to open the thermostat. If the engine isn't warm enough to open the thermostat then it is normal to see the level slowly rise as the coolant expands.
Since the flow in the radiator is from top to bottom the upper tank will fill every time the thermostat opens. So, it is normal for the level to go up and down if the engine is warm enough to open the thermostat. If the engine isn't warm enough to open the thermostat then it is normal to see the level slowly rise as the coolant expands.
#7
I have a new radiator pressure tester gizmo and when I did the 30,000 mile service on my '03 I checked the radiator pressure cap and it flunked - it wouldn't hold pressure. This didn't cause any symptoms like you describe or any symptoms at all. Still, for optimum cooling you need a pressure cap that is working. So, for people who don't have a tester and this would be most people, I suggest you add this item to your 30,000 mile parts list.
Since the flow in the radiator is from top to bottom the upper tank will fill every time the thermostat opens. So, it is normal for the level to go up and down if the engine is warm enough to open the thermostat. If the engine isn't warm enough to open the thermostat then it is normal to see the level slowly rise as the coolant expands.
Since the flow in the radiator is from top to bottom the upper tank will fill every time the thermostat opens. So, it is normal for the level to go up and down if the engine is warm enough to open the thermostat. If the engine isn't warm enough to open the thermostat then it is normal to see the level slowly rise as the coolant expands.
Trending Topics
#8
EvoM Guru
iTrader: (7)
Pressure in the cooling system varies with every car model. Some show no pressure when cold, the Evo always shows some pressure when cold. Once you let some coolant drip on the radiator it will take days to burn off. Remember that coolant is designed to take heat so typical radiator heat is not enough to burn it off. I personally dont think their is anything wrong with your cooling system. The guy that tested his cap and found it to be bad probably didnt test it properly, in over 11 years of working as a tech I have changed 1 bad radiator cap. Evos are not prone to having air in the system either.
#9
Pressure in the cooling system varies with every car model. Some show no pressure when cold, the Evo always shows some pressure when cold. Once you let some coolant drip on the radiator it will take days to burn off. Remember that coolant is designed to take heat so typical radiator heat is not enough to burn it off. I personally dont think their is anything wrong with your cooling system. The guy that tested his cap and found it to be bad probably didnt test it properly, in over 11 years of working as a tech I have changed 1 bad radiator cap. Evos are not prone to having air in the system either.
#15
Evolved Member
Fill the radiator up, put the cap back on and, run the car till it's hot. Then fill the overflow tank to the hot fill line. Walk away.
You should know by now that every time you open your hood you're going to walk away with more questions than answers.
You should know by now that every time you open your hood you're going to walk away with more questions than answers.