I installed a new radiator and put it fresh coolant.. It's not overheating, as a matter of fact it's running cooler than previously. It's just over the 1/4 mark. Is this okay?

Well my main question is that if my car has been off and it's cool.. The coolant level in the reservoir goes down to the MIN level.. but then after driving for a while and the car warming up, it seems like the coolant gets pushed INTO the reservoir and it goes up to the MAX mark.

Why is it doing this? Is this normal?

Thanks.

 

Also I forgot to mention.. Whenever I start the car with the radiator cap OFF, the coolant slowly rises and begins to pour out of the radiator neck, so I have to cap it off.

No white smoke from exhaust, and the coolant/oil looks clean.

I hope it's not what I think it is. (HG)

Thanks guys..

 

That is absolutely 100% normal. (refer to a repair manual, it will tell you the same thing) that is what it is suposed to do. When you run the car without the cap, the system builds pressure, and because the cap is off, that is where the pressure is going to escape hence the coolant running up and out of the radiator. As for the resevoir, when the motor is running and warm the hot coolant will go into the resevoir to cool off a little bit before it is introduced back into the system, so when you check the resevoir with the motor at operating temperature, there should be a good amount of coolant in the resevoir. When the motor is cold, just make sure that the level of coolant is at least half way between the min and max mark, but if its ever below the min mark, you should fill the resvoir with fresh coolant back to the recommened level. I hope this answers your questions....

 

I thought it wasn't normal because I constantly see people saying to leave the cap off for like 10 minutes to bleed the system, and have seen numerous other people say that it shouldn't pour out with the cap off.

I can't even go more than 30 seconds with the cap off..

I would like some more opinions on this.

Thanks man ^

 

100% normal

 

Did you remove the thermostat and flush the system before adding coolant? Its sounds like you might have added too much coolant to the system. Maybe try running it with the cap on and the resevoir empty and see how much coolant gets put into the resevoir. Any time I work on my cooling system, I always flush out the entire thing before I add new coolant.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmturbo1127 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you remove the thermostat and flush the system before adding coolant? Its sounds like you might have added too much coolant to the system. Maybe try running it with the cap on and the resevoir empty and see how much coolant gets put into the resevoir. Any time I work on my cooling system, I always flush out the entire thing before I add new coolant.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, I removed the thermo and flushed it out with my hose.

I though that it was not supposed to pour out since some write ups on this site say to leave the cap off and run the engine for 10 minutes when adding new coolant..

How do I know if i added to much coolant?

Should I just check to make sure that the coolant in the radiator is full and leave the reservoir empty?

More comments welcome, thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Razr2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also I forgot to mention.. Whenever I start the car with the radiator cap OFF, the coolant slowly rises and begins to pour out of the radiator neck, so I have to cap it off.

No white smoke from exhaust, and the coolant/oil looks clean.

I hope it's not what I think it is. (HG)

Thanks guys..

</TD></TR></TABLE>

these guys are right it is normal but for future refrence one way to check for a blown head gasket like you hoped it wasnt is to check the oil if its blown youl usually pull the dip stick out to find its milky and grey but dont always rely on this it really depends on how its blown

 

Do you have a repair manual? After the system has been completely drained and the thermostat has been installed, fill the radiator with new coolant to the top of the neck. Fill the resevoir to just above the MIN mark, then put the heater and blower to their MAX positions. Start the the car and let it run until the upper radiator hose gets hot (this means that the thermostat has opened) with the radiator cap OFF. Turn the motor off and let cool. Once cool, squeeze the upper radiator hose to get any air out of the system. Check the level of the radiator and if necessary, fill the radiator back up to the neck, then put the radiator cap back on and check for any leaks. Simple as that........

 

thats normal actually. what isnt normal is seeing bubbles from your reservoir then you know you have a problem

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmturbo1127 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you have a repair manual? After the system has been completely drained and the thermostat has been installed, fill the radiator with new coolant to the top of the neck. Fill the resevoir to just above the MIN mark, then put the heater and blower to their MAX positions. Start the the car and let it run until the upper radiator hose gets hot (this means that the thermostat has opened) with the radiator cap OFF. Turn the motor off and let cool. Once cool, squeeze the upper radiator hose to get any air out of the system. Check the level of the radiator and if necessary, fill the radiator back up to the neck, then put the radiator cap back on and check for any leaks. Simple as that........</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's what I'm trying to say.. The coolant starts to rise and pour out of the RADIATOR neck when the cap is off..



So it's normal for this?

 

Absolutely dude! Mine always does when I flush coolant. I seriously wouldnt worry about it......