circle110

After driving my 2002 Accord for 10-15 minutes I begin to smell coolant and I can see that there is steam coming out of the top of the radiator reservoir container where the white plastic tube that the black hose it attached to connects to the reservoir.

* There is no steam escaping from the radiator cap, just the top of the reservoir.
* The first time this happened I was stuck in traffic for almost an hour and the car did not overheat - temperature stayed normal.
* There is no white smoke from tailpipe.
* The reservoir is clean, not oily and oil is not milky. It is empty - no coolant in it.

What am I looking at? Is the reservoir bad? The radiator cap bad? I hope not a head gasket.

lazlong

It'll be hot enough to scald for sure but, shouldn't have steam. You need to have the coolant tested for exhaust gases. Exhaust gases= bad headgasket

circle110

Unfortunately, I'm in Mexico City right now and have no idea where to find a quality, honest mechanic to test it.

The coolant was low so I filled it up and put the proper amount in the reservoir and it is no longer steaming but it still sounds like it is boiling in the reservoir and it has the odor of anti-freeze although without the steam or any apparent leak.

Any other thoughts on what it might be besides the head gasket?

19Accord97

check the actual level of coolant in the radiator (when it isnt warm). Add/fill coolant to the proper level and make sure to bleed it as well. Air in the system is only going to add to the problem.

holmesnmanny

probable radiator core blockage

circle110

The coolant in the radiator is full when not warm. I will bleed it to see if that helps.

@holmesnmanny - What can I do about radiator blockage?

circle110

One more thing I just noticed --
I filled the radiator and the reservoir to its proper level yesterday and then drove for 20 minutes. Today the reservoir is empty.
I don't see any leakage on the pavement under the car. So where did the coolant from the reservoir go?

holmesnmanny

u need to compression test the motor now since u have coolant loss...if it tests fine u need to locate leak...but start with compression test...be sure to remove 15a ecu fuse before testing to disable fuel and spark