While I was driving my temperature gauge was
showing one line before red zone. Quickly I've
realized that my fan is not working properly because
there is no juice in my battery. Also, as it is not good to turn the engine off, I've found down hill way and let it cool to about line above 90. After that took a free road and took it down to 90.
When I was at home it went back to line before red zone. I've parked the car and turned it off.
**** I was thinking at that moment that it is good to
open radiator cap to released pressure. I did it slowly and the boiling coolant pored out.
*** Before I’ve opened it, the water wasn’t boiling. I know that pressure in the system eeps the boiling level of the coolant on higher level.
*** Was opening the radiator cap good idea?
*** Why was coolant boiling when I’ve opened the radiator cap as engine was not in the red zone.
*** Was my engine overheated?
*** Can it overheat before the red zone?
2007-03-17 01:20:20 · 5 answers · asked by cona 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I am asking these questions to see if I did any damage to my engine, and was it overheating?
2007-03-17 01:54:04 · update #1
The boiling point of water increases with pressure. If you car has a 15lb (1 bar) cap, then the boiling point is raised about 20C. Some cars are now being made with 1.5 bar caps, which raise boiling point 35C. By openning the cap, you lower the pressure and reverse the effect. The water in your system was probably at 110C or more, well above the tempertatutre required for boiling at atmospheric pressure. So phoosh! Instant boilover.
I doubt that this did any harm to your engine, since the coolant wasn't boiling over before you openned the cap. You usually only get permanent damage when you run the motor dry. However, I wouldn't repeat the experiment. Replace the lost coolant with a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze, and fix your fan or thermostat.
2007-03-17 02:10:14 · answer #1 · answered by anywherebuttexas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it is possible but since u didn't redline it u may be ok. also do not remove rad cap while hot . the pressure difference keeps the coolant from boiling. that is better to cool down with.pressure is good fro it since liquid absorbs more heat than steam right? U will have to get ur cooling system repaired and then see if ur engine is bad.what kind of car is it? and does it have an aluminum cylinder head? u can let it cool down and run it for a few minutes to see if the engine has a cracked head or bad head gasket. if ur engine is ok, then replace the coolant thermostat because they can malfunction when they get over heated. this should not be too expensive to have done , and u might be able to do it urself. if u like to tinker around. good luck.
2007-03-17 02:10:10 · answer #2 · answered by spotlite 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you not see the warning about not opening the radiator cap while the engine is hot? Hot meaning after it was running, not just overheating. Antifreeze is under pressure even when the car isn't overheating. If its hot out and I'm not moving, sometimes my car will warm up a little bit. If your stuck in that situation, it helps to turn on the heater. It happens and most people don't realize and its probably not that bad unless it starts happening all the time.
2007-03-17 01:37:18 · answer #3 · answered by lmnchcgfl2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the engine was very much overheated in this situation.
u must show your car to a mechanic.
2007-03-17 02:11:01 · answer #4 · answered by Hussain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring it to a good mechanic for a quick diagnosis.
2007-03-17 01:40:37 · answer #5 · answered by done wrenching 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋