88 Overheating/head gasket

The symptoms seem to change. Sometimes overheats very quickly, other times I can go about 4 miles, temp is ok, then a few seconds after I turn off the water bubbles up in the reservoir. There is a large crack in it, so coolant/water spews out. I picked up a another one from the wreckers today. I understand that this is supposed to be a closed system so how do we make it air tight? Also the wreckers and an autoparts place have both mentioned that this overheating could be a sign of head gasket problems and if so the new reservoir will explode? I know very little about this stuff but my husband is pretty good at fixing most car problems. Any ideas?

The symptoms seem to change. Sometimes overheats very quickly, other times I can go about 4 miles, temp is ok, then a few seconds after I turn off the water bubbles up in the reservoir. There is a large crack in it, so coolant/water spews out. I picked up a another one from the wreckers today. I understand that this is supposed to be a closed system so how do we make it air tight? Also the wreckers and an autoparts place have both mentioned that this overheating could be a sign of head gasket problems and if so the new reservoir will explode? I know very little about this stuff but my husband is pretty good at fixing most car problems. Any ideas?

HI, IF THERE IS ANY CRACKS IN COLLANT BOTTLE IT WILL PICKUP AIR IN THE SYSTEM AND CAUSE OVERHEATING. REPLACE COOLANT BOTTLE IF YOU EMAIL [email protected] I'LL SEND YOU INFO. YOU CAN USE ON THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. CAN'T SEND THRU FORUMS DALE CHECK FOR WATER IN OIL