Hello guys, Ive read that a bad radiator cap can cause over heating…didnt paid much atention to this until I read an article in the web…
My water-coolant isnt milky brown color meaning there is oil mixing with the coolant…
Some coolant is lost after a couple days of driving…
NOTE: When turning the engine ON..it takes about 25 minutes to reach near operating temperature…Ive noticed years before this took alot LESS like some 5-10 minutes..
The mechanic changed the water pump due to leakage form it…
Im having vacuum problems in the intake manifold (gonna fix that soon..)
Im suspecting the lower radiator hose is leaking coolant…since its a bit damaged at one end…
The engine runs rough and poor acceleration….Im giving this to the vacuum leak…
The engine seems to over heat…it FEELS there is alot of heat and "smell" coming from the engine…but the temperature gauge stays "normal"…
So….how do I check a bad radiator cap? I need to refill the coolant reservoir every 3 days since I dont know WHERE is going!! Im telling you guys…the coolant-water is NOT milky or brown….neither the OIL…not milky brown…
So…Ive got vacuum leaks and suspecting a bad radiator cap…
How to diagnose the bad cap? Te engine feels it HEATS UP ALOT…you can feel the heat from a distance…and yet the gauge says normal…and reaches normal after 25 minutes of idling…
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if the radiator cap dont leak, its probably O K , id try a new thermostat, and if you still question the rad. cap,…..get a new one..they dont cost much
Just go buy a new cap. They dont cost that much and if it is the one that came on the truck new , it is no good anyway.Got to keep pressure on that cooling system.
A bad cap will not cause the slow warm up, you probably have a bad thermostat, it opens too early or is stuck open. Now change the radiator hoses, the cap, and find the overflow tank. fill everything up with a 60/40 mixture or antifreeze and distilled water then it will give you a complete sealed cooling system., then you find the thermostat is bad and drain the coolant and save it. Go to the Auto Parts store again and purchase the proper stat and gasket. and get some sealant to stick the gasket so it doesn't slip when you put it over the thermostat and put the housing on and tighten it down but do not horse it tight. then fill it up again. It probably will not take it all so start it with a loose cap so when the stat opens you can finish filling the radiator . check it for leaks, and it should warm up quicker. Fill the overflow tank up to the cold line with whatever coolant you have left , any left, save it to fill the tank after a few days.That will be the fix for that. the miss is a separate issue.
I would run it in my driveway until it got hot, and then shut it down….. watch for leaks on the driveway, try to determine where it comes from. The reservoir on some cars, is made of plastic and they tend to crack and Usually, (murphys law) it is under the reservoir, so it can't be seen. Some times it is just high enough so that when the reservoir is so high with coolant, it leaks. but when the level drops a bit, it stops leaking.
If you suspect the radiator cap, just buy a new one…they aren't that expensive. Make sure you get one for your specific vehicle, because they range in pressure and in how they work. The older cars had caps that would vent out, dumping fluid….but not suck in. New caps have vent to reservoir and then suck back in when cooling down. So the level stays up in the radiator.
A leaky heater, inside the vehicle can also be draining it…but you would have anti freeze smell inside, and your windows would probably fog up. but also check the hose connections to the heater under the hood.
Make sure the water pump is NOT leaking…..the mechanic replaced it, but it might not be sealed and will leak.
It will heat up if the water level is low, and also if the pump is bad….just because it is "replaced" does not mean it is good….most times it is, but….you never know about rebuilds.
You would notice coolant leaking from the radiator cap and the "bad" radiator hose once the coolant reaches normal operating temperature and is under pressure. If the cap concerns you that much, just replace it. They are not that expensive. Also, if you can't see and signs of an external leak, and you say the engine runs really rough, I might suspect you have a blown head gasket. Does blinding amounts of white smoke come out of your exhaust, then that is a definite indicator of a bad head gasket and could also explain where all your coolant is going.
Having kind of same problem. My car will run rough like it is skipping after it warms up. I had a nwe water pump put on it because it was running hot and a new thermostat. After the water pump was put on it didn’t run hot for about 2 weeks. It started skipping again and run hot then white smoke came out of the tail pipe. I know it sounds like a blowed head gasket but their is no water mixing in the oil and it is not smoking anymore but it will start running rough after it warms up after driving it for about 5 minutes and start running hot again. What does this sound like?