Re: Sudden, Spastic Overheating and Gushing Coolant

["Daniel Hussey" <dan_hussey@email.msn.com>]

Richard,

I'm willing to bet that you don't have a coolant leak, per se.  I think you
probably had your coolant expansion tank cap on too loose and when the car
started getting hot, it started gushing out the cap!

Don't be upset as it's happened to me before.  I checked the coolant before
a ski trip one time and forgot to tighten the cap and then managed to drive
a few hours.  When I was pushing the car hard climbing mountians the temp
needle really started climbing as well.  When I got to the top the big
warning lights started going off and steam came up from under the hood.  It
was spewing out of the coolant cap!  Yes, I felt like an idiot, but it
wasn't the first time and definately wasn't the last.

Add new coolant and water (try to get a 50/50 mix) and get your temp gauge
(or sender) fixed so you can tell actual coolant temp all the time.  Do that
and keep and eye on it.  I'm willing to bet everything will be fine.  BTW,
the idiot warning lights only go off when water level gets too low
(basically when expansion tank is empty).

The expansion tank cap has to be on tight as it is a highly pressurized
cooling system.  One other thing it COULD be is your expansion tank may be
cracked from the bottom side by the outlet.  I had one crack there and loose
a lot of coolant fast.  I highly reccomend replacing expansion tanks on
older cars and I just replaced mine about a month ago.  Also nice to see
clearly the coolant color and fluid level.

Hope this helps.

Later,
Dan