Coolant?

[chase]

I seem to be going through a lot of it, what could be the deal. I assume I should have it drained and refilled, but I dont see how that will make it not dry up so fast.

I started the car this morning, very cold, acting a little weird. the belts are making a slightly odder sound. i think maybe its just cuz of the cold and continue to look around car, there is collant coming out of the half inch hose leading to the radiator, right where it connects, and also coming out at that part of the hose on the resevoir. now, odd, what do i do?!

i undo the cap for it and there was a bunch of pressure, and after it was released it stopped bubbling out of the hose.

car sounded fine after that

(Coolant light is on occasionally recently)

[nando]

uhm.. replace your hoses? :idea:

[chase]

well if the hoses aren't leaking currently, they're not the reason for my quick loss of collant now is it.

they were bubbling because somehow pressure built up in the resevoir, and thats not normal

[m42technic]

they were bubbling because somehow pressure built up in the resevoir, and thats not normal

Actually thats quite normal. Having the coolant under high pressure raises the boiling point. If you could see coolant bubbling out of your hoses, your hoses obviously cant hold the pressure. As Nando said, replace your hoses and go from there.

[randomtask37]

i also vote for replace the hoses.

surprizingly my overall temperature dropped significanly replaced mine. so im sure that it fixes many things when u do.

[Kavkazia]

Is your car overheating?

Pressure under cap is no good, check for top hose, going from thermostat to driver side radiator on top, if you feel any pressure, and its hard, you're leaking pressure from chambers into coolant, and that means you need new headgasket, if your car is overheating.

If not, still when its warm, you take cap off it should be calm, and there should be no bubbles or boiling water/pressure, if it is, than new headgasket is the cure.

[chase]

Update:

Took it to the shop down the road and had em look it over. I've got a big leaky radiator apparently.

They quote me 75 for the labor and about 300 for the radiator.

damn its just one thing after another with this car.

[m42technic]

Is your car overheating?

Pressure under cap is no good, check for top hose, going from thermostat to driver side radiator on top, if you feel any pressure, and its hard, you're leaking pressure from chambers into coolant, and that means you need new headgasket, if your car is overheating.

If not, still when its warm, you take cap off it should be calm, and there should be no bubbles or boiling water/pressure, if it is, than new headgasket is the cure.

The whole point of designing the cooling system to be sealed is to create pressure. When the coolant gets hot, it naturally expands. Because the cooling system is sealed, the coolant has nowhere to displace, and thus pressure is created. If you squeeze your hoses when your car is hot, and they dont feel firm, then something is wrong.

[Brew]

Replacing the radiator is a 20 minute job. Don't pay somebody to do it. That price is a little high for the radiator, too. Check out: www.aplusparts.com I got mine a few months ago from them and I think it was only a little over $200.

[darien28]

I got an aftermarket radiator for $90 and it works fine... it's a Radcon unit i think...

the coolant is not supposed to be under too high of pressure... the coolant cap is supposed to release some pressure if it's too high. maybe your cap is faulty?

also, if the radiator is leaky, then you'll see coolant somewhere comming out of it. but first, I'd go replace those hoses jsut to be safe. They're regular maintnance items anyways.

[chase]

yea, thanks, well i made the update soon as i got home from the mechanic. i knew 300 was too steep, and i was confident on finding a lower price.

10 minutes after i made the post, i ordered a new rad. off of bavauto for $189.

i was going to do a cooland change a month ago, and i read about how to remove the radiator, so i'm sure i'll be doing this myself.

the only problem is its freezing like hell outside, and i have no where to do this change.

also, where can i get these hoses, and which ones do i need?


thanks, chase

[Spaz]

well the hoses you need i assume are

1. Upper Rad Hose
2. Lower Rad Hose

you might want to replace the

3.Water Pipe To Thermostat
4. Thermostat To Water Pump

Or you can get the whole kit
here it is at bav auto.

Bavarian Autosport Hose Kit - 8 Hoses With All Clamps
Part # : HK32588 $ 179.95

hope that helps

[325 eta]

Replacing the radiator is a 20 minute job. Don't pay somebody to do it. That price is a little high for the radiator, too. Check out: www.aplusparts.com I got mine a few months ago from them and I think it was only a little over $200.

yeah man taking it to the shop is for pussies. working in the cold sucks but i rather freeze my ass off the pay some guy to change my radiator.

[Kavkazia]

Is your car overheating?

Pressure under cap is no good, check for top hose, going from thermostat to driver side radiator on top, if you feel any pressure, and its hard, you're leaking pressure from chambers into coolant, and that means you need new headgasket, if your car is overheating.

If not, still when its warm, you take cap off it should be calm, and there should be no bubbles or boiling water/pressure, if it is, than new headgasket is the cure.

The whole point of designing the cooling system to be sealed is to create pressure. When the coolant gets hot, it naturally expands. Because the cooling system is sealed, the coolant has nowhere to displace, and thus pressure is created. If you squeeze your hoses when your car is hot, and they dont feel firm, then something is wrong.

Pressure, I mean by hard pressure, that is hard to even squeeze with your hands, I had cooling problems, and after all this problems, compare the pressure that I had, is alot softer in hoses, if you ever will exprience cooling problems that is caused by pressure from chambers leaking into coolant system becaues its not sealed properly or worn, you'll understand what I was trying to say.

[m42technic]

Pressure, I mean by hard pressure, that is hard to even squeeze with your hands,

You didnt specify that the first time.