What would make my radiator overflow discharge all of a sudden?
I have a '93 rodeo, drove 40 miles to work this morning. When I pulled in the lot at work, hot water spewed out of the overflow tank (nice steam cloud that freaked me out). The car was not running hot according to the temp guage and after cooling down, the radiator was full (soo the flow back is working), just the overflow tank was down. If it was the thermostat, I would assume the car would run hot. I have not added fluid to the overflow tank recently either. Any suggestions?
2007-02-28T08:16:51Z
Additional details: The radiator cap is only about 6 months old (that's not to say it isn't faulty) with a new radiator and hoses. After having them replaced I have stayed on top of fluid levels very regularly and nothing was low. It's not all that cold here in So Cal.
2007-02-28T08:23:43Z
Again, wouldn't a stuck thermostat (only a couple years old) show as an overly hot engine as a symptom before any extra pressure would even get to the overflow?
hsueh0102007-02-28T08:06:07Z
Favorite Answer
Radiator cap is not holding pressure.
Check the radiator cap itself. The cap has a spring under it and it weakens over time. The spring is suppose to maintain a level of pressure. When it wears out it will result in the symptoms you describe. (But so will a stuck thermostat).
I recommend getting a new radiator cap. They typically cost less than $15 from a parts store. Remove your old radiator cap when your engine is COOL! and replace with a new one.
If you have a separate radiator cap on top of the radiator, remove it (cold engine) and make sure the radiator is full to the top. If the thermostat has never been replaced, I would definitely replace it since it shouldn't be too tough to do. I would buy the thermostat from the dealer with a new gasket to make sure I got the right thermostat for the vehicle. Also, remember which way the old thermostat comes out so you don't get the new one in backwards. Check for coolant leaks including the water pump weep hole under the water pump shaft. Any white residue there means a leaking water pump. Make sure your fan is working at idle. I hope you've been changing your coolant every two years. If not, you could have a clogged up cooling system. You can't tell when coolant needs changing by its color. Finally, a shop could use an exhaust gas tester at the open mouth of your radiator on a hot engine at idle. If the tester detects exhaust gases coming out of your coolant, you have a bad head gasket that's heating up your coolant by the hot exhaust gas leaking into the coolant.
my first, best guess estimate would be the thermostat. being as its winter and still chilly in places some cars wont actually over heat or show that they are getting close to it. something to check also is that if the cooling fans are coming on when the temp is getting to the right area... also look to see if your getting a lower radiator hose thats getting weak. you can tell this by having the engine running and while watching the hose rev the motor. if the hose is weak it will look like its colapsing together. thus restricting flow.
You could have a faulty pressure cap not pressurizing the system.The effect of this would be for it to over heat whilst you were driving the air flow through your radiator compensated when you stopped air flow ceased then you got steam up .Get your cap checked.
Possible air pocket inside coolant system. Your radiator needs to be routed out(ie thoroughly cleaned) or it was overfull and now that its getting warmer it puked out. Your mix ratio could also be off.
If you are able to drain fluid yourself drain it and then refill even with same stuff ,, If you can hear your radiator going "glug glug glug" and the antifreeze disappears rapidly you dont need a routing/cleaning.. Also make sure you can easily pour in fluid, before you empty