my overflow tank is full and if i add more water to my radiator where will that water go?
I need a new gas gasket and dont have the money to replace it since i dont want to put money into a truck with almost 200,000 miles. I was told to put water in my radiator but the overflow tank is already filled to the max so if i add more where will it go?
My car has 191000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
To begin with: you don’t want to put straight water into your cooling system. You need to use a 50% mixture of water and anti freeze. You put it in at the radiator cap. Start with the engine cold and off, and fill the radiator slowly, then, leaving the radiator cap off, start the engine and turn the heater onto MAX. As the engine warms up, the level may go down some so you continue to top it up. Be careful looking into the radiator, if the cooling system is building pressure for any reason, it may belch HOT coolant out into your face! Continue to run the car until the engine is warmed up and there is heat coming out of the vents. Then re-install the cap. The overflow tank is just that, it catches any coolant that blows out of the radiator because of pressure buildup. I like to leave it about 1/2 full in most cases. If the system is working properly, the radiator will blow out small quantities of fluid, and then draw it back in as the engine cools. If you would rather have someone else do this for you, you can contact Your Mechanic. They will send a technician out to your home or office to Top off your cooling system for you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Top off the coolant reservoir
If the coolant level is low in the reservoir, you can refill it to the max fill line but do not overfill it. The coolant mixture expands when it heats up and needs the extra room. Keeping your coolant at the correct level is one of the ways to keep your radiator good working order.
One common cause of the coolant reservoir being full but the radiator low on coolant is a blown head gasket. Combustion gasses from one of the cylinders leaks into the cooling system, and forces coolant from the engine into the reservoir. Once the reservoir fills up, the rest goes overboard through the overflow outlet.
Only Use Water In The Radiator In An Emergency
If it`s really low or actually empty, you need to add fluid to your vehicle. While it`s ideal to add a 50/50 mix of coolant and water (or a pre-mixed coolant), if you absolutely have to keep driving, you can add water to the radiator to get you to your destination.
* 50/50 pre mixed Coolant do not need to mix with water. * 100 % concentrated Coolant is pure & need to be mixed with water.
Can I add coolant/antifreeze to a hot car? In instances where an engine has overheated, causing a breakdown, there may be a need to add fresh coolant/antifreeze to the cooling system. However, you should never add coolant/antifreeze when the engine is hot, and instead, wait for it to cool.
Coolant, or antifreeze, is essential to regulating the temperature of your vehicle. It`s also extremely toxic and designed to stay inside a closed system. If you`re seeing an overflow, it could be due to a radiator cap, thermostat, water pump, or radiator malfunction.
Can you top your coolant up with water? Coolant should only be topped up with water in case of an emergency when the coolant liquid level is lower than it should be. While topping up with water will help you get safely to the nearest RAC Approved Garage and identify any issues, it shouldn`t be relied upon.
Providing that the engine is running well, with no leakages or damage, you can expect a coolant loss of 0.25% every four to six months. This means a loss of two to three ounces a year is completely normal.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
my overflow tank is full and if i add more water to my radiator where will that water go?
ANSWER : To begin with: you don’t want to put straight water into your cooling system. You need to use a 50% mixture of water and anti freeze. You put it in at the radiator cap. Start with the engine cold and off, and fill the radiator slowly, then, leaving the radiator cap off, start the engine and turn the heater onto MAX. As the engine warms up, the level may go down some so you continue to top it up. Be careful looking into the radiator, if the cooling system is building pressure for any reason, it may belch HOT coolant out into your face! Continue to run the car until the engine is warmed up and there is heat coming out of the vents. Then re-install the cap. The overflow tank is just that, it catches any coolant that blows out of the radiator because of pressure buildup. I like to leave it about 1/2 full in most cases. If the system is working properly, the radiator will blow out small quantities of fluid, and then draw it back in as the engine cools. If you would rather have someone else do this for you, you can contact Your Mechanic. They will send a technician out to your home or office to Top off your cooling system for you.
I have a 00 deville I just changed the water pump housing and water pump the thermostat and radiator the upper and lower radiator 2000 Cadillac De Ville
ANSWER : Hi there – I suspect your radiator is clogged or otherwise corroded so that it is not shedding heat as efficiently as it should. Idling with the heater on was getting rid of heat without loading the radiator. When you’re driving, the engine is generating more heat than both the heater and radiator can get rid of. Checking the difference between hot coolant going to the radiator (top hose), and going back into the engine (bottom hose) may show that there is very little temperature difference. This means the radiator is not doing it’s job, and need to be professionally cleaned or replaced. Good diagnostic effort on your part to avoid the obvious "it’s another Northstar head gasket" diagnosis! For confirmation, I would recommend an overheating inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Radiator losing water (no leaking) but overflow keeps gaining water
ANSWER : Based on the information you provided, It sounds like you may have a blown head gasket. What happens is that the high pressure in the combustion chamber squeezes its way through a break in the head gasket into the coolant passages. The result is pressure build up within the cooling system that could push coolant out into the overflow tank. Be sure to check your oil to see if coolant has contaminated it. If so, it will look milky.
I suggest getting help from a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, who can diagnose the possible leak and perform a quick test to determine if combustion gasses are getting into the coolant. Best of luck.
saw some radiator fluid leak, some clear water. overheated. Water pump? thermostat? Radiator full
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Air conditioning systems do condensate and drip water. This is totally normal, and likely unrelated to the cooling system problems. If the coolant is full, and it was not the source of the leak, then the coolant is not being circulated, or it is not being cooled by the radiator fast enough. With the water pump and the thermostat being two of the top components to inspect, you will want to also consider the cooling fans and the radiator need be. Clogs can cause a lack of circulation, but so can bad pressure regulation. Leaks in the system or a bad radiator cap can cause pressure differences. Only further testing will tell. For more help with testing, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
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.
Water from the radiator is going to the expansion tank which then overflows causing engine to overheat.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be three things that could be causing your engine to overheat and the heater to not work.
(1) The thermostat could be stuck shut or causing the cooling system to not flow making the engine overheat and the heater not get any flowing coolant
(2) The water pump could have failed or have sludge on it causing the coolant to not cycle making the engine overheat and the heater to not get any flowing coolant.
(3) One or both head gaskets could have burned causing the engine to leak coolant into the combustion chamber making the engine overheat and the cooling system to boil over with exhaust gases entering the cooling system.
If you have checked all three areas and you are unable to locate the issue of why the engine is overheating and why the heater is not blowing warm, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your overheating issue.
Coolant drained from overflow tank, radiator still full but has went down a bit
ANSWER : This leak is most likely coming from the water pump. When the system starts too leak the overflow bottle keeps the radiator full. You will need to have the cooling system pressure tested to confirm that this is the actual source of the leak. If you would like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, perform a diagnostic inspection of the leak, and let you know what repairs will be necessary.
My car won’t go past 35mph
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you provided, your vehicle has problems with the transmission again. You stated it will not shift into 3rd gear again, like before the transmission was rebuilt. If the transmission is again the problem, it should be covered under warranty. It could be a faulty shift solenoid. The shift indicator not reading properly could be a faulty transmission position sensor. If this is an overall lack of performance issue, according to your last statement, then possibly you have a restriction in the exhaust system. I recommend having your vehicle’s problems inspected and diagnosed by a certified technician from YourMechanic.
