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Bad Radiator Cap
Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?
Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under the radiator cap. Lost about a gallon of coolant. I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage and not on the highway. With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator cap has never happened to me before. Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the radiator cap with each oil change. Has anyone else experienced this? Larry |
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#2
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Bad Radiator Cap
Larry wrote:
> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap? Yep. I had to replace mine a few years back. It was leaking around the edge. Just picked up a simple replacement cap. -- DougW |
#3
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Bad Radiator Cap
On 3/14/2012 19:36, Larry wrote:
> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap? > > Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand > Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was > a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the > hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under > the radiator cap. > > Lost about a gallon of coolant. > > I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage > and not on the highway. > > With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator > cap has never happened to me before. > > Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an > uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the > radiator cap with each oil change. > > Has anyone else experienced this? > > Larry > > Every oil change is a bit absurd unless you leave your oil in for a loooong time. Most radiator shops, general repair shops, will pressure test your cap for you for free. Some places require this as part of smog testing. |
#4
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Bad Radiator Cap
Larry wrote:
> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap? > > Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand > Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was > a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the > hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under > the radiator cap. > > Lost about a gallon of coolant. > > I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage > and not on the highway. > > With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator > cap has never happened to me before. > > Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an > uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the > radiator cap with each oil change. > > Has anyone else experienced this? In point of fact, shortly after shutdown is the most likely time for something to blow. Engine is still hot - hotter than coolant by far - and nothing is circulating so temp goes up by quite a bit for a few minutes. Most times, the result is an overflow from the overflow bottle unless you have one of those closed systems. Cap failure is a common thing - usually shows up as overheating due to the slow loss of coolant. Just be glad that it's a cheap fix! When I see a puddle after shutdown it usually signals that the pressure has popped the shaft seal in the water pump. -- Will Honea |
#5
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Bad Radiator Cap
On Mar 15, 3:53*pm, Will Honea > wrote:
> Larry wrote: > > Has anyone in this *group ever had a problem with a radiator cap? > > > Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand > > Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was > > a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. *I opened the > > hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under > > the radiator cap. > > > Lost about a gallon of coolant. > > > I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage > > and not on the highway. > > > With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator > > cap has never happened to me before. > > > Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an > > uncommon thing to happen. * And some mechanics recommend replacing the > > radiator cap with each oil change. > > > Has anyone else experienced this? > > In point of fact, shortly after shutdown is the most likely time for > something to blow. *Engine is still hot - hotter than coolant by far - and > nothing is circulating so temp goes up by quite a bit for a few minutes. > Most times, the result is an overflow from the overflow bottle unless you > have one of those closed systems. > > Cap failure is a common thing - usually shows up as overheating due to the > slow loss of coolant. *Just be glad that it's a cheap fix! *When I see a > puddle after shutdown it usually signals that the pressure has popped the > shaft seal in the water pump. > > -- > Will Honea Thanks for that info... Larry |
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