Yet another coolant question!

[Da Bushman]

Hey guys and gals,

My coolant seems to be leaving the radiator and filling up my overflow tank to the point that it can't hold any more. This in turn make the radiator not have enough coolant flowing through it and then the car starts overheating really bad. There was even smoke coming from the radiator area. What can be causing this? If i plug up the line that goes to the overflow tank, will it help? How do i go about pluging that line?

Chris

 

[Mr. Sinister]

Don't plug the line for the overflow. It's there for a reason.

Have you checked your thermostat and radiator cap to make sure they're working properly yet?

 

[Johnysupra]

Yeah could be a Bad cap opening at low pressure ot bad thermostate
or combo of both..

Check em or if you cant check just Replace em both....cheap and easy

 

[Da Bushman]

Hey thanks for the fast replies!

How do i go about checking them? What should i look for to know that they are bad?

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

Is it losing coolant through the overflow after warming the engine up and turning it off? How about the waterfall sound behind your dash? Any milkshake crud under your oil fill cap?

You might want to consider a leak down test, because overheating's a bad thing and could lead you to...

::bhg::

 

[Kckazdude]

If you are unsure of the age of either item I would suggest just replacing both. Good insurance against future problems for less the $20.

 

[suprastanger507mgte]

If you are unsure of the age of either item I would suggest just replacing both. Good insurance against future problems for less the $20.

I think a bad cap and or a bad thermostat will do this as well as a BHG.

Start small first. Change the cap, as they do go bad. The rubber deteriorates. I just replaced mine recently because the small rubber part had actually broken off and overflow was getting full.Wasn't staying closed enough to creat enough pressure.

Also change the thermostat. If it does not open and allows coolant through at a desired temperature, it can lead to bad things.

 

[Da Bushman]

Is it losing coolant through the overflow after warming the engine up and turning it off? How about the waterfall sound behind your dash? Any milkshake crud under your oil fill cap?

You might want to consider a leak down test, because overheating's a bad thing and could lead you to...

::bhg::

No none of those, I think its while the car is on, i never checked when it was off.

 

[Da Bushman]

Can you guys give me the part numbers for the therm and the cap? I'll stop and get them after work. So if neither one changes anything, where can i go for the leak test?

 

[Johnysupra]

Can you guys give me the part numbers for the therm and the cap? I'll stop and get them after work. So if neither one changes anything, where can i go for the leak test?

Some people will probably disagree with this but if you need to do a leakdown test and your tight on money, its would probably be cheapest to go to a local harbor freight (chinese tool store) and buy a leak down kit for like 14 bucks. if you go to a shop it will cost atleast 60 im sure. if you dont have a harbor freight some bigger autoparts stores may rent them.

The chinese tools arent accurate but it will letcha know if something is completly bad or not

 

[Poodles]

doesn't have to show the exact PSI, just if there is a difference between cylinders...

as long as it seals fine, it will work

You guys are also forgetting if he has a small leak it will stop the pressurization of the coolant system which is required to keep the coolant from boiling. Once it boils, it increases pressure out of control and it will push the coolant out.