With radiator cap off, the water should not ever boil, nor should it ever bubble violently out of the radiator should it. Is this a thermostat problem, or a head gasket?
2007-09-18 12:33:58 · 4 answers · asked by Sambo51slc 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The water will boil with the cap off. The cap holds pressure in the cooling system. When you don't have the cap on the system isn't pressurized and you lower the boiling point significantly.
2007-09-18 12:46:17 · answer #1 · answered by rcbuggy1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you start with a cold engine and let it idle, with cap off, when the engine gets to operating temp. the thermostat will open. If you have a full radiator when the thermostat opens it will blow coolant out the cap openpng. This will stop after a bit when things equalize and you can look in and see the coolant circulating. The coolant circulates from the bottom of the radiator towards the top then down the top hose and through the thermostat back to the engine. The coolant blows out the cap because it is hot from the engine heat and when thermostat opens the hot water expands and causes the overflow.
2007-09-18 20:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by tronary 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a thermostat to me.
2007-09-18 19:43:54 · answer #3 · answered by alanlans007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a test kit available, that tests for engine combustion byproducts in the coolant, at any auto parts store.
2007-09-18 19:45:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋