Coolant doesn’t stay in tank
The reserve coolant tank exploded, and the coolant doesn't stay in the tank.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Greetings. The coolant reservoirs on your model vehicle usually produce leaks at some point. It is due to the fact that the reservoir itself is constantly under pressure created by the coolant system. The material it is made of is a plastic like material. Overtime, the plastic looses strength and becomes likely to exploded or crack under the system’s pressure. I suggest having a trained technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect the coolant leak and determine exactly what the problem is.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If you can locate a drip on a hose, the engine block or can see a radiator leak, and there`s a pool of coolant under the car, then it`s an external leak. If there are no puddles beneath the vehicle, yet the coolant level is dropping, you have an internal leak, which means the coolant is leaking into the engine.
Antifreeze leaks can be caused by a variety of things but the two most common factors are age and dirty coolant. Dirt or oil in your coolant can accelerate wear in your system, leading to leaks in your water pumps, at gaskets, or at o-rings. Flushing your cooling system is the best way to stop this type of leak.
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Malibu has a coolant leak are loose hose connections, a broken radiator, or a failed water pump. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
If the coolant reservoir cracks or breaks due to old age or overheating it will leak. Small leaks may produce steam and drips, while larger leaks will produce streams and puddles, as well as an obvious coolant odor.
If your coolant level drops slowly and always has, you most likely are just losing coolant to evaporation. Blown head gaskets can also cause coolant to slowly get drawn into your engine causing a similar slow loss of coolant.
Chances are you have either a radiator cap leak, internal coolant leak or an external coolant leak. The longer you wait the higher the coolant leak repair cost will be. Learn how to diagnose your antifreeze leak and learn what to do next.
Corrosion within the radiator is one of the leading reasons that coolant leaks. As the tubes get older and weaker, you may get sediment or debris inside that causes a leak. The sealing gasket between the tank and the radiator can also wear out, and that could lead to a leak.
The average cost for a Chevrolet Malibu Coolant Change is between $368 and $402. Labor costs are estimated between $129 and $163 while parts are priced between $239 and $239.
A coolant/antifreeze leak can occur for a variety of reasons, including a blown radiator hose, a bad hose clamp, warped head gasket, or the most common reason, a foreign object kicked up by the truck in front of you penetrating the radiator itself.
If you are regularly topping off your coolant, you have a coolant leak somewhere in the system. It can be difficult to identify where the leak is coming from. Often it is best to have a professional diagnose a coolant leak, but there are a few things you can check before bringing your car into a shop.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
If you suspect an internal coolant leak, allow the radiator to cool, take off the cap, and look for signs of oil or frothy bubbles in the radiator or header tank. With the engine running, smell the coolant itself – if there is a whiff of exhaust gas , the cylinder-head gasket may be leaking.
Depending on the reason that your radiator`s leaking, you may be fine driving around for a week or two and just refilling the radiator tank with coolant as needed. But if your radiator leak is serious, topping off the coolant a couple of times a week might not cut it—unless you`re prepared to drop big bucks on 50/50.
If you are losing coolant and do not find any leaks on the engine or radiator or under car then the most likely cause is a leaking head gasket leaking coolant into the engine cylinders. You may need the head removed and gasket replaced.
The most common coolant leaks occur in the hoses that connect your engine to your radiator or heater core, or other small hoses running coolant to different equipment on your engine. The best way to stop these leaks is usually to replace the hose as they are inexpensive and easy to get to.
We commonly see cracks in hoses, as well as loose hose clamps and rusty seals. These are generally easy to replace for a trained professional like the members of our team. Unlike a radiator leak, which a professional can usually repair, with hose issues it is typically better to simply replace.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
It is often associated with a bad head gasket that is allowing coolant to seep into the engine`s combustion chamber. If your coolant level is low despite no visible leaks under the vehicle, then it might be a problem with the head gasket that you`ll want to have inspected and repaired.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?
ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.
If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
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Over heating coolant not siphoning back into coolant over flow tank
ANSWER : Hey there:
It’s common for many mechanics to make the mistake of mis-diagnosing the cause of an overheating situation; especially when they assume it’s a thermostat issue. The problem could be caused by a blockage in the coolant tubes running from the radiator to the overflow tank and back to the radiator. However, it also may be due to air trapped in the coolant lines. I think a good idea would be to contact a different ASE certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, and have them complete a coolant flush, which should remove any blockages in the coolant tubes and may solve your problem.
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1996 F150 4.9 5 speed. Frt. Fuel pump quit working. Put fuel in rear tank and it sucked the fuel to the frt tank.
ANSWER : The two tanks are designed to work together and so BOTH pumps must be functioning and, as well, the related fuel system supply code, the Code P0232 that has set has to be resolved. P0232 means that the fuel pump relay is stuck on, keeping power supplied to the fuel pump even after the ignition has been turned off although another possibility is the fuel pump secondary power circuit has a short to battery voltage. The factory service manual (FSM) specifies a very lengthy diagnostic (because you have separate tanks). If you do not have the FSM, your best bet is to request a fuel pump diagnostic – dual tanks and let a certified mechanic get to the bottom of this. With regard to the other code, P0704, that code will set if the clutch switch is defective, there is worn clutch pedal lever or clutch lever bushing, shorted or open wiring and/or connectors in the clutch switch circuit, a blown fuse or burnt fusible link and/or, rarely, a faulty PCM or programming error. If you request the pump diagnostic the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Coolant doesn’t stay in tank
A piece of cardboard/paper from the coolant jug was accidentally dropped into the coolant tank.
ANSWER : Unfortunately, this tiny piece of cardboard will not dissolve in coolant as it is designed to withstand the chemical makeup of the coolant. This can become lodged in areas inside the radiator that will prevent the proper flow of coolant through the passages. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to properly remove the debris from the radiator at your own convenience.
Read Full Q/A … : Coolant doesn’t stay in tank
Coolant doesn’t stay in tank
ANSWER : Greetings. The coolant reservoirs on your model vehicle usually produce leaks at some point. It is due to the fact that the reservoir itself is constantly under pressure created by the coolant system. The material it is made of is a plastic like material. Overtime, the plastic looses strength and becomes likely to exploded or crack under the system’s pressure. I suggest having a trained technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to inspect the coolant leak and determine exactly what the problem is.
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My car is spitting coolant from the overflow tank
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. Check the coolant strength to see what the protection is. A good protection will read 164 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the radiator cap to see if the seal is torn or if the release valve inside the cap has failed or is sticking open. A radiator cap can cause the system to boil and spit out all of the coolant.
If you have good coolant and the radiator cap is new, then the thermostat could be sticking causing your coolant to heat up too much which in turn causes the system to boil. To check if the thermostat is working, start up the vehicle when it is cold and watch the coolant temperature gauge. When the thermostat opens, the gauge will drop a little.
If the gauge does not show this, then, when the upper radiator hose gets hot, right after the thermostat opens, the coolant flows through the hose and you would be able to feel this. Plus, the hose will begin to get cooler as the coolant travels through the hose. If the thermostat was replaced and you still have a boiling issue, then the head gasket has burned on the engine.
If you need assistance, then seek out a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, to help determine why the car is overheating and why the coolant is boiling out.
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Car won’t start.leaking coolant antifreeze out of drain hose.changed coolant tank cause had a crack in it.now car won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. There are several reasons why you might be experiencing overheating issues with your car. However, without knowing the vehicle details, it’s hard to give you a good diagnosis. It could be the water pump, bad thermostat, an air bubble in the coolant lines, or a blown head gasket in the worst case.
The best thing I can recommend for you is to contact a local ASE certified mechanic to inspect the vehicle’s starting issue and determine what needs to be fixed.
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I have a 1981 e-350 with dual fuel tanks the p.o. added a third tank and 3 electric fuel pumps along with sepparate gauges and swi
ANSWER : The switch you are referring to is vended with the required electrical and fuel schematic (I just looked in the box) that answers your installation question. If you want an advance view, here is a link as well. Yes, you need a return line and just refer to the aforementioned link. If you are retrofitting back to OEM, I strongly encourage you to buy the original Factory Service Manual (FSM). There are lots of details attending this system and obviously it is difficult to recount it all here. The FSM will make your life much easier and you can then make sure your installation is perfect. Alternatively, YourMechanic can dispatch a certified mechanic and perform the whole retrofit and check out if you desire. Just request and schedule a generic service such as fuel pump service and the mechanic will come to your location and estimate the parts and labor required. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Coolant doesn’t stay in tank
