My stepson left his radiator cap off. I went to use his car and the low coolant light was on and when i was filling it up it was just running out somewhere from the bottom. The radiator cap was left off. Did this hurt the car?
2007-07-17 01:36:31 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
WHAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL??????
YOU SAID IT WAS RUNNING OUT THE BOTTOM, THEN YES YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
WITHOUT THE RAD CAP ON A VEHICLE THE SYSTEM WILL NOT PRESSURE UP CORRECTLY AND THE COOLANT WILL RUN, THIS COULD HAVE DAMAGE THE ENGINE BUT I WOULD HAVE YOU LOCAL TRUSTED AUTO REPAIR SHOP PRESSURE CHECK THE SYSTEM FOR YOU FIRST.
DO NOT USE A CHAIN STORE OR THE DEALER BECAUSE YOU WILL GET THE SHAFT.
2007-07-17 01:46:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Normally, you could drive the vehicle without a radiator cap with no long term problems. You would lose some coolant, for sure, but the cap being off will cause the cooling system to not pressurize and therefore not raise the boiling point of the coolant. Coolant has a higher boiling point under pressure, the higher the pressure-the higher the boiling point. That is why radiators have a cap that holds pressure. But unless he overheated the engine, I don't see why there would be a problem. If you are filling the radiator and it is just running out the bottom, then there is a problem. But, maybe that problem was already there...why did he take the radiator cap off in the first place???
2007-07-17 02:00:30 · answer #2 · answered by Andy T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK, first, the antifreeze that is supposed to be in your radiator system increases the thermodynamic capacity of the water it is mixed with. The cooling system in an engine is designed to take the heat from the engine and release it in the air pushed though the radiator. The cooler water is then repumped around the engine. This is why the antifreeze helps the engine stay cooler than water alone. The system heats up and is under pressure when operational. If the radiator cap is left off, the heated water expands and can boil up and out of the radiator, thus reducing the volume of liquid in the system. Where was the coolant leaking from, can you see? Maybe you have a blown pipe? Or a bad connection on one of the hoses. Also check the oil in your car. If there is antifreeze mixed with the oil, you have major issues, as a main seal could be blown.
2016-05-20 00:33:15 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the motor still runs your only recourse at this time is to repair the source of the leak fill the cooling system with the appropriate type of antifreeze your system calls for and install a new radiator pressure cap. Don't forget to fill the coolant recovery reservoir to the top line with the motor cold. After the engine cycles through heating and cooling for the next weak more 50/50 coolant may need to be added to the reservoir.
For us to say there either has or has not been damage hinged on the number of miles the car had been driven while the cooling system had no coolant. If the motor still runs you may have lucked out. Drive it after the repair and hope for the best.
2007-07-17 01:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to fix the leak first and get the system able to hold pressure. I suspect the radiator has a hole. If the vehicle did not overheat badly then the engine is probably o.k. The job of the radiator cap is to not only to keep coolant in the coolant system but also to keep a specified pressure on the system to increase the boiling point and to release vacuum pressure when the engine cools.
2007-07-17 02:03:52 · answer #5 · answered by kaliggie01 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did the check engine light come on and stay on? What was the temp gauge max reading?
The motor temperature is ambient when first started cold and the thermostat doesn't open right away. After a few minutes when the thermostat does open, the water pump will promptly dump coolant out of the radiator as the fluid expands from heat if the cap is left off.
Motor damage depends on how hot the motor got and how long it ran while hot.
Possible motor damage will vary greatly.
2007-07-17 01:44:14 · answer #6 · answered by Whoda thunkit? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need the cap to pressurize the system so the coolant will circulate. With out it, the coolant will expand and come out the top. Then the engine will over heat, crack the block, and lock up/
2007-07-17 01:45:50 · answer #7 · answered by ohio44903 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
its possible, you should buy a new cap and put it back on and refill the coolant.
2007-07-17 01:47:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋