when i parked my overflow tank was bubbling

[93AWDDSM]

hey i have a question about my friends 97 eclipse rs 420a engine, i'm not to familar with the 420a engine, i have a 93 TSI, anyways i took it out today for about a 45min drive and when i parked my overflow tank was bubbling and blow like steam out? and it keeps running out of coolant but i can not see a leak..

any ideas?

 

[rush2252]

blown head gasket

 

[Calan]

I'm going with what he said ^^^

Do You Have a Blown Head Gasket?

 

[tsiAWD91x]

id say that its prob 98% gasket^^. I would try and do a "leak down" test for the grand ending. before you crack the head IF you plan on doing this, or taking it to a shop. Assumig you have he machanic skills. or at least try before a job like that. that guys write up is SWEET and id read that over first ..sorry to hear about that bro

 

[DyNamiC]

A leak down test is in order. Also definitely read through that HG article. Its one of the best tech articles on this site in my opinion.

 

[superscott54321]

is it overheating. pull the dipstick and see if its milky or all bubbles if so you've got a blown hg if not do a leak down test. how old is the coolant and is it the proper water/antifreeze ratio. too much water can lower the boiling point it should be 50/50

 

[red_devil]

is it overheating. pull the dipstick and see if its milky or all bubbles if so you've got a blown hg if not do a leak down test. how old is the coolant and is it the proper water/antifreeze ratio. too much water can lower the boiling point it should be 50/50

The more water the better the cooling

Run the car with the rad cap off and see if there is any air in the system. Then try a compression test.

 

[eagle_talon90]

It could also just be a shot rad cap. If it's stuck open then as soon as coolant heats up it expands and runs into the overflow tank, thus filling the overflow tank and having it leak out from there while you are driving. Then when you shut the car off it will be bubbling in there because its so hot still. I'd definently check that out first seeing as rad cap=10 bucks and blown headgasket=$$$$

 

[my dreamt dsm]

It could also just be a shot rad cap. If it's stuck open then as soon as coolant heats up it expands and runs into the overflow tank, thus filling the overflow tank and having it leak out from there while you are driving. Then when you shut the car off it will be bubbling in there because its so hot still. I'd definently check that out first seeing as rad cap=10 bucks and blown headgasket=$$$$

I agree. Might not be head gasket. I had that problem also, I've checked the fluids and oil and no mixture, such as no oil in radiator fluid or etc.
The reason why it's boiling is because if your rad cap is fug(see the springs on the radiator cap). it doesn't close at high temp so it stays open releasing all the hot fluid back into your reservoir. Im guessing when he open the hood after a long drive he sees steam or dry white crust in the engine bay. And even a longer drive in the summer he will hear boiling from the car!

I thought it was my coolant fan switch or thermostat. I changed it brand new and I was still having the same problem. I changed the radiator cap and it did it for me! Make sure your coolant system don't contain to much air.

 

[DSM1G90]

I'm also pointing to a bad rad cap. the spring inside do get tired along with shot cap gaskets.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

How is it?

 

[fwdmaster]

It's your radiator cap,trust me,been there done that

 

[DJ23GSX]

Any Updates??

I'm battling this same issue. My new oem radiator cap is on it's way from JNZ. I'm hoping thats all it is. The seal on my cap now has a few cracks in it and hopefully its not holding a seal under pressure. My compression is still near perfect (162ish) on all 4 cylinders so I'm assuming I didn't blow the metal hg.

 

[DSM1G90]

Yep, cracks in the gasket on the cap will definitely not hold any pressure. You could have got a cap from NAPA and saved a few pennies....what I did when mine went and holding good.