5 symptoms of a bad radiator cap

5 symptoms of a bad radiator cap

Radiator cap, even it is just like another cap, it is hold an important function for the engine cooling system. Radiator cap maintain the pressure inside the cooling system to remain the same at a constant level.

When the engine works and produces heat, the coolant will absorb the heat. At the same time, it is rising the pressure inside the system. The radiator cap hold it's pressure in the exact working pressure to hold the coolant from boiling and get steamed.

bad radiator cap symptoms

If the radiator cap failed to hold and maintain the pressure, you will face an engine overheat. If you are late to prevent the overheat, then the engine damage will be very severe and costly. In this articles, we will inform you 5 symptoms of a bad radiator cap signs that would appears in your car. Check the symptoms below..


1. Engine overheat


The first symptoms for bad radiator cap is engine overheat. Yes, bad radiator cap can make your engine overheat. Radiator cap has purposes to maintain the pressure at constant level inside the cooling system. If the radiator cap is going bad or damage, it is can causes over pressure or lower pressure inside the system.

Lower pressure could cause the coolant more easier to boil off and starting to be steam. The longest periode of boiling coolant will reduce the coolant significantly. With little or no liquid around to cool the engine, the engine is likely to overheat.

Overpressure could cause some of cooling system components failure, for example burst hoses and collapses waterpump seal. Failure cooling system components may drain out all of the coolant inside. This conditions can make your engine overheating.


2. Leaking coolant


The next symptoms of bad radiator cap is leaking coolant. Bad radiator cap such as broken pressure valve or missing vacuum valve can't hold the coolant inside the cooling system any longer.

As a result, the pressurized coolant will flow out through the crack or the missing vacuum valve. If you see the leaking coolant underneath your car, cou can check the radiator cap as one of the causes.

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3. Steam from engine


Another symptoms of bad radiator cap that would appear in your car is steam from the engine. Bad radiator cap can make the coolant boiling and steamed. In most cases, the steam will appear and shows up from the engine hood.

Just pay attention in front of your car windshield, if there is a vapour, take a look of your temperature gauge in the dashboard panel. You need to stops immediately on the safest area if the gauge shows you at HOT position. This mean your engine overheat.

Becareful and make sure your engine is cooling down first before you get any actions to check the cooling systems. Checking the engine while it has steamed from overheat could be dangerous.


4. Overflowing reservoir tank


Overflowing reservoir tank can be a sign of bad radiator cap. Yes you always see your radiator reservoir tank is full with the coolant if you have a bad radiator cap. This culd be happen if the pressure valve or the vacuum valve is damage.

Damaging pressure valve or vacuum valve will let the coolant overflowing to the reservoir tank because of the pressure were generated from heat of the working engine.


5. Radiator hose bursts and collapses


The last symptoms of a bad radiaor cap is radiator hoses bursts and collapses. This condition will happen if the pressure valve or the vacuum valve is in stuck position because clogged by any dirt or mud.

The pressure inside the cooling system can not maintain by the radiator cap, so the pressure will up and rise higher until one or more from engine cooling system components are failed to hold the pressure. The cooling system component that is most often damaged if this condition occurs is the radiator hose, it is bursts or collapses.
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