Coolant leaking through coolant reservoir cap

[sebas-1024]

Hello,

Back with more problems, my '92 Galant is losing quite a bit of water (I know coolant is the right fluid but it's leaking a lot of it so I'll put coolant once I can permanently fix the leak, it will never freeze where I live), I noticed that it leaks quite a lot once I turn off the car after driving for a while, and the leak comes from the coolant reservoir cap, the actual plastic cap is broken and seems to me like is the culprit. I need to (very carefully) drive the car while I find a working cap so I have 2 questions:
1. Is it better to just put a hose into the water in the reservoir so it's directly connected and has no way of leaking, will it work that way as a temporary fix? I'll keep adding water if needed and check the temperature as I drive.
2. Since this is not the radiator cap, does anybody know of a newer or more popular car that uses a cap just like this one? Finding a used one in good condition would be a nightmare at this point.

I'm attaching a video showing the leak after turning the car off, thanks in advance for any help!

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[luv2rallye]

Yes having a hose that goes into the overflow bottle would work better. The Eclipse has a plastic cap (somewhat tight) but there's a hose under the cap to direct the water to the bottle bottom. Water can only come out the cap if the bottle is completely full.

Why is coolant going to the overflow bottle anyway? It shouldn't be doing that unless the rad cap is faulty or the wrong size (check the depth {which can be the problem not sealing against the neck properly}, size, and pressure rating).

 

[sebas-1024]

Yes having a hose that goes into the overflow bottle would work better. The Eclipse has a plastic cap (somewhat tight) but there's a hose under the cap to direct the water to the bottle bottom. Water can only come out the cap if the bottle is completely full.

Why is coolant going to the overflow bottle anyway? It shouldn't be doing that unless the rad cap is faulty or the wrong size (check the depth {which can be the problem not sealing against the neck properly}, size, and pressure rating).

Isn't that how it works? Some coolant goes there when it expands and then it comes back as needed. It might also be pushing some coolant/water out of the reservoir through that gap in the reservoir cap, that doesn't come back into the system either.

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

seems like its a constant push so your rad cap seal might be dry or not sealing. the ONLY time fluids go into the expansion tank and from is when its warmed up or cooling or your over heating and pressures are too high in the system. "IE" bad thermostat.

your cap here also looks like it has a split in there so that needs replacing straightaway first and if your rad cap is 5 years or older replace that also

 

[sebas-1024]

seems like its a constant push so your rad cap seal might be dry or not sealing. the ONLY time fluids go into the expansion tank and from is when its warmed up or cooling or your over heating and pressures are too high in the system. "IE" bad thermostat.

your cap here also looks like it has a split in there so that needs replacing straightaway first and if your rad cap is 5 years or older replace that also

Well the video was about a minute after turning off the car, if working correctly the cap should be open to return what's in the overflow at that point if I'm not mistaken. I guess being open to atmospheric pressure is messing up the pressure diferential and water/coolant is going in the wrong direction. Makes sense?

 

[FIBA M - EC17PSE]

Well the video was about a minute after turning off the car, if working correctly the cap should be open to return what's in the overflow at that point if I'm not mistaken. I guess being open to atmospheric pressure is messing up the pressure diferential and water/coolant is going in the wrong direction. Makes sense?

after the car is turned off means the caps not working or you got pressure issues so its either a bad stat or HG issues as once off it should not be doing anything till it has fully cooled down

 

[sebas-1024]

after the car is turned off means the caps not working or you got pressure issues so its either a bad stat or HG issues as once off it should not be doing anything till it has fully cooled down

I got a hose that is long enough to sit at the bottom of the reservoir for now, that seems to be doing the trick, there still is a minimal loss of water but it's manageable (could it be evaporating or something?), will keep an eye out for any additional loss and will try to find a coolant reservoir cap so everything works as it should. I can't be entirely sure that the head gasket has no issues, it shouldn't since I just had some work done to the top of the engine but everything is possible, I believe the water level in the tank is going up and down as intended though. Will post again if the problem comes back, hope it doesn't. Thanks!