Hi HT,
So during my commute to work my car started smoking, but the temp gauge stays right in the middle where it always is. Get to work pop the hood, there's coolant sprayed everywhere. Now the car is running, parked and there's some steam coming from the radiator but no noticable leaks. I've only ever seen coolant spray like this when a car overheated. I don't quite understand what this might be, any ideas? Thanks.

 

Cracked radiator? Pretty common with these cars.

 

depends what you mean by checked. i looked it over the best i could given it was right before i had to walk into work. i didnt see any immediate cracks. there was some steam coming off of. again, the gauge wasn't reading overheating though which seems weird to me.

 

you have a leak, some are not as noticeable as others, I would just replace the leaking part; radiator or hoses as needed. you dont need to over heat to have a leak.

 

Yeah just find the leak, plus most coolent leaks are simple fix's.

 

I appreciate the input, so don't take this as argumentative...but given the amount of coolant sprayed throughout the engine, its hard to image that there wouldn't be a noticable leak. Literally there is dried coolant back towards the battery and I will need to add coolant before I drive home. Wouldn't that point to a pretty large leak that I should be able to see when its running? Also what would be causing the radiator to steam? Thanks again.

 

My 99 si just had this issue last week. My stock radiator cracked, I got a new one from go-autoworks.com for around 118 bucks. Mine never overheated either, but It had a crack in the top of the rad.

 

It could be a very small cut in a hose, and it will only leak under high pressure.

 

That would seem to make sense as there did appear to be a tiny pool of coolant on top of the radiator. I'll check again before I leave for work.

I don't claim to know much about cooling systems but wouldn't the pressure throughout the cooling system be the same while the car is idle depending if the fan is off/on?

 

no.
unless you are running an electric water pump.
oem water pump runs off the engine.

 

If at all possible see if you can get a hold of a pressure tester, it'll connect to the top of the radiator and pressurize the system. Sometimes the leak will only be visable when there's pressure, don't go over 15-16psi I believe. Also the cooling fan may have caught what leaked out and slung it all the way to the battery. It could even be a pin sized hole in say the heater hose or something. It's the best way to know for sure.

 

CSF replacement radiators

 

I'll see if I can find someone with one. I don't think they carry them for rent at most parts stores. Its driving me nuts because at idle it won't leak or spray, but the radiator will still kick off huge amounts of steam/smoke. I replaced the radiator cap thinking maybe it was faulty and not pushing coolant into the reservoir when under pressure, alas, no luck. I tried just pulling on the throttle cable and watching for leaks but I guess that didn't produce enough pressure to expose the leak. Replaced the line hose from radiator to reservor tank, still smoking but I'll have to check coolant levels again to see if it is still leaking/spraying. Thanks for your help everyone.

 

I hate when people give good advice and people do not want to listen.

Get a pressure tester or have a garage do it for you, that will determine if the radiator is cracked typically at the top.

If it is original most likely cracked.

 

Perhaps you have trouble reading. I don't think that saying "I'll see if I can find someone with one. I don't think they carry them for rent at most parts stores.....Thanks for your help everyone" qualifies as not listening to good advice. Next time you wanna try to be a stereotypical HT smartass, save for it someone else. Thanks.

 

A quick phone call would tell you. I don't see WHY they wouldn't have one.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ino...tingAndCooling
And a quick Google search.

 

Call Autozone and Advance to see if they rent them I will be surprised if they don't.

 

Yea I'll be stopping at the local autozone on the way home today to see. Less than two years ago I worked at an Advance while I was in college, I know we never carried them for rent. But Autozone's site does say they have them, so I'll check around. Thanks.

 

That sounds good, those things are a life saver especially if you make a living with them, but whatever you do, just don't buy the radiator from autozone jk, good luck!