Radiator leakage/overflow

[chevyed]

I own a 1996 Cavalier. My wife, after shopping, saw "much" rusty water falling to the ground. She drove it home; and the temperature gauge stayed in the safe zone. I checked the water level in the surge tank; and it was OK. There were no signs of cracked water hoses. However, now a small radiator warning symbol appears on the dash; as it has occasionally in times past.

[BlazerLT]

First off, go buy another rad cap. Its $4 and has to be changed for proper cooling. Get the proper one for your vehicle, don't just grab what you think fits.

With the engine completely cold, open up the radiator and see if the coolant is right up to the top.

If not, fill the rad with the appropriate coolant. If it is ornage, go pick up a jug of dexcool premix and fill it to the top, install the new rad cap and see if the problem goes away.

[chevyed]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

First off, go buy another rad cap. Its $4 and has to be changed for proper cooling. Get the proper one for your vehicle, don't just grab what you think fits.

With the engine completely cold, open up the radiator and see if the coolant is right up to the top.

If not, fill the rad with the appropriate coolant. If it is ornage, go pick up a jug of dexcool premix and fill it to the top, install the new rad cap and see if the problem goes away.

Thanks. I took your suggestion about the cap; and anothers' suggestion about replacing the eight year old anti-freeze, and things look OK now.

[BlazerLT]

Sweet!

It has to be changed every 5 years.