tiny radiator leak if fixed will this prevent from overheating?

Question

the plastic spout from the engine that attaches the radiator pipe has just corroded and now coolant spills out of it and the car overheats. i tried to put the hose back on to the tiny bit of the spout that was still sticking out but a tiny bit of coolant still sprays out and the car overheats im about to replace it but want to know if i have damaged something else. is replacing this and having it fully sealed going to fix the problem PLEASE HELP ME IM SCARED

thank u for your answers just one more thing i did notice as i was pulling up that the car at one point nearly died does this mean i have done some damage??
thank u once again all that answered :p

Answer 1

If an engine overheats too long, the block can crack or the pistons can sieze up. I don't believe that such an event has occurred according to your descriptions. Once you fix the problem, you should be in good shape but it never hurts to keep an eye on it. Just to be extra safe, you could buy a new radiator cap and install a new thermostat if your finances allow for it.

Answer 2

Don't be scared, as overheating will not cause serious damage to your cars engine, unless you allow it to remain excessively hot for long periods of time. The key is to shut down when your engine light or gage indicates that your engine is too hot, and let it cool down.

I am not sure what type of car you have, so it is unclear as to exactly what pipe has gone corroded. It it is leaking, however, your car will overheat at the point where enough coolant has leaked out leaving an insufficient amount to cycle through the engine and do its job. The key here is to keep the reservoir full until you have the leak permanently repaired. You must put back the amount that leaked out or your engine will overheat!

On a temporary basis, you can opt to use clean pure water to top off the system until the repair is made, assuming that you do not live in a area where outside temperatures are going to either freeze to that point, or become excessively warm during this period.

Once the repair is made, you should completely drain the system and replace the coolant. Your auto repair shop can perform a back flush to remove dirt and rust prior to replacing the coolant, which is a good idea at this point. If you plan to do this on your own, you must look up the year and make of your automobile on a chart where you purchase the coolant to determine the correct amount of coolant to put back into the engine. Once that amount is added, you fill up to the "full" line on the reservoir with plan clean water to make up the difference.

I hope this helps... good luck!

Answer 3

Yea, OK, I had to read your question carefully to see what you were saying. You need to replace the corroded "fitting" that is attached to your engine. It corroded probably due to a to lean coolant mixture, it should be at about 50% coolant and 50% water, it acts to stop corrosion, a too weak mixture can cause this type of problem. The car is overheating because there is no pressure in the system because of the leak, all the pressure leaks out and the coolant doesn't circulate. Replace the fitting with one from the junk yard and get a mechanicaly inclined friend (one who works on cars) to get it and change it out. No need to change anything else, including the thermostat, these should be fine and this should fix the problem. When starting the car after the swap, Top off the coolant and leave the radiator cap off until the you see the coolant start to move,, (about 5 mins) stand by with a gallon jug of 50/50 and pour it up to the top to top it off just when it starts to move, then secure the cap onto the rad, pre-fill the radiator overflow bottle up to the full hot mark. That will fix it.

Answer 4

Your car is overheating because the water is not circulating. If you get the spout thing fixed, then the water will be able to circulate properly and your engine will cool properly, assuming there are no other leaks etc. Make sure there is enough coolant in the radiator/header tank, and never run your car if it is overheating. Overheating your car will cause certain parts of the engine to over expand and warp. The most common of these is the head, causing the head gasket to leak. If you didn't run it for more than a few minutes, then the likelihood of a problem occuring is low. If you did seriously cook it, then check your oil to make sure it is oil coloured, and not mayonnaise-like. Another symptom is lots of white smoke (steam and oil) or general power loss. Some cars can take a lot of abuse in this area, and some cannot.

Answer 5

depending on how old your car is i would consider checking the water pump and thermostat as well, thermostats are pretty cheap and easy to change so i'd do it anyway, to make sure there's isn't any dirt clogging the system and maybe even flush the radiator. you can find a kit at any autoparts store. but it shouldn't over heat when you fix the leak as long as the radiator is holding coolant. so you can take a breathe and relax

Answer 6

change it. (quite cheap too).. and no more heat..
P/s ; dont forget to fill up the radiator as well.. for an optimum results, fills the radiator when at idle engine speed.. plus a can of those green alien blood coolant..