Greggles

After taking a spirited 20-mile drive I was waiting in a long gas line for sub $2.00 super and I noticed that the car was running hotter then normal. After pulling up to the pump someone pointed out a huge puddle of coolant that obviously was coming from my car. Immediately feared the worst, a cracked block or failed radiator base, I stopped pumping and began looking for the source, but I couldn’t find anything, just a couple of drips which seem to come from the starter(?) It all happened so fast .

I opened the hood and the engine was HOT. The front fenders were too hot to leave your hand on. I let it sit and went in search of coolant, maybe 20 minutes later it was cool enough to open the radiator cap. I added about ½ a gallon (which topped it off) and looked for a leak, there was none. Started it up still no leak and the engine seemed fine. I started driving home carefully, it seemed a little hotter then normal, but after a few minutes it again seemed normal.

I know there is a radiator overflow hose, but it seemed like a lot of coolant to come out in such a short time. If it were the overflow hose what would cause this sudden, very embarrassing purge? Any suggestions to what might have happened.

urnotthesameina928

Hi Greg I am going through the process of removing my rad because of a leak that started out slow and is now pretty fast..gallon in 15-30 min.. My guess is that you may only see it once the engine gets up to temp. Have you let the engine run up to temp for several minutes. My leak that im correcting is comming from somewhere on the bottom center of the rad..going to have it tested . doesnt look like any problems with the plastic tanks.

Big Dave

How old is your water pump?

Old pumps can go bad pretty quickly and leak a lot.

ViribusUnits

Or that old expanshion tank.

My car sprouted a condition in which it holds water, untill a certain pressure, or tempreture is reached, and then it dumps about everything. It's the strangest thing. And apperently has everything to do with the tempreture of the water in the tank.

However, in my cars case, I can't find the damn leak. I've gone through the tank with a fine tooth comb. No holes, no cracks, no nothing. I've gone through the hoses, they're all good. So I'm throughly confused, except I know it's something in that area.

Greggles

Guys
Thanks for the quick responses.
The water pump in less then 2 years old & 5k miles
The expansion tank is original?
The engine got pretty hot (not as hot as when it dumped), but no leak.

I've got somethings to check tomorrow. Anything else?

Mark

Heater control valve and hose?

Mark

Viribus - your problem sounds like a bad rad resevoir cap!

SharkSkin

I think Mark's got it. Your pressure cap should open at around 1 bar or 14 PSI.

Pizza

Check the fitting from the block to the heater valve. It is just crimped on. Mine gave out while I was driving hard one day.

Garth S

If after the severe overheating, it only took a half gallon to refill - the car did not get hot due to loss of coolant! The reverse is true - the engine overheated, and lost coolant; therefore, you need check out the things that cause sudden overheating:
A sticking/failed thermostat is the more likely cause. Water pumps do (rarely) fail, but they don't get better after adding coolant - they will also eat up timing belts.
Rad/expansion tank caps are often tied into these problems: you can always back the cap off and drive at atmospheric pressure to test.
Did your fans come on? If so, did they stay on ... and on? Was the rad hot hot, or normal?
Right now, I'd guess stuck thermostat - especially if the block was really hot.

ViribusUnits

I would agree, except the coolent is not comeing out of the overflow drain.

Greggles

Again, I appreciate the help.

I didn't notice if the fans we're on. They didn't stay on. I was like a deer in the headlights of an on-coming car.

The exp. cap is stamped Behr 100(?), my guess is it isn't original.

Thermostat....maybe?
I've run the car again, no sign of overheating, no sign of leaking.
I'd really like to get to the bottom of this.

Changing the thermostat wouldn't be a bad idea either way. Is it as simple as it looks - draining the coolant and removing the lower radiator hose elbow?

Viribus - why do you doubt it is coming from the overflow?

ViribusUnits

I was talking about Mark's comment for my car.

The coolent isn't coming out of the overflow drain on my car. there for I don't think the cap is leaking.

As for your car, it's possible. I'm not sure.

Sorry for the th thread hijacking.