Bad Radiator Cap

Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?

Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand
Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was
a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the
hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under
the radiator cap.

Lost about a gallon of coolant.

I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage
and not on the highway.

With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator
cap has never happened to me before.

Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an
uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the
radiator cap with each oil change.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Larry

Larry wrote:
> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?

Yep.

I had to replace mine a few years back.
It was leaking around the edge.

Just picked up a simple replacement cap.

--
DougW

On 3/14/2012 19:36, Larry wrote:
> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?
>
> Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand
> Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was
> a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the
> hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under
> the radiator cap.
>
> Lost about a gallon of coolant.
>
> I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage
> and not on the highway.
>
> With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator
> cap has never happened to me before.
>
> Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an
> uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the
> radiator cap with each oil change.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this?
>
> Larry
>
>

Every oil change is a bit absurd unless you leave your oil in for a
loooong time.

Most radiator shops, general repair shops, will pressure test your cap
for you for free. Some places require this as part of smog testing.

Larry wrote:

> Has anyone in this group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?
>
> Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand
> Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was
> a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. I opened the
> hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under
> the radiator cap.
>
> Lost about a gallon of coolant.
>
> I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage
> and not on the highway.
>
> With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator
> cap has never happened to me before.
>
> Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an
> uncommon thing to happen. And some mechanics recommend replacing the
> radiator cap with each oil change.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this?

In point of fact, shortly after shutdown is the most likely time for
something to blow. Engine is still hot - hotter than coolant by far - and
nothing is circulating so temp goes up by quite a bit for a few minutes.
Most times, the result is an overflow from the overflow bottle unless you
have one of those closed systems.

Cap failure is a common thing - usually shows up as overheating due to the
slow loss of coolant. Just be glad that it's a cheap fix! When I see a
puddle after shutdown it usually signals that the pressure has popped the
shaft seal in the water pump.

--
Will Honea

On Mar 15, 3:53*pm, Will Honea > wrote:
> Larry wrote:
> > Has anyone in this *group ever had a problem with a radiator cap?
>
> > Having just come into town from a short road trip with our 2001 Grand
> > Cherokee, my wife pulled into the garage and all of a sudden there was
> > a large pool of coolant under the engine compartment. *I opened the
> > hood and found coolant gushing out of the top of the radiator under
> > the radiator cap.
>
> > Lost about a gallon of coolant.
>
> > I was really feeling lucky that the cap decided to blow in the garage
> > and not on the highway.
>
> > With all the autos I have owned in the past 60 years, a blown radiator
> > cap has never happened to me before.
>
> > Turns out the radiator cap had failed and as I found out later, not an
> > uncommon thing to happen. * And some mechanics recommend replacing the
> > radiator cap with each oil change.
>
> > Has anyone else experienced this?
>
> In point of fact, shortly after shutdown is the most likely time for
> something to blow. *Engine is still hot - hotter than coolant by far - and
> nothing is circulating so temp goes up by quite a bit for a few minutes.
> Most times, the result is an overflow from the overflow bottle unless you
> have one of those closed systems.
>
> Cap failure is a common thing - usually shows up as overheating due to the
> slow loss of coolant. *Just be glad that it's a cheap fix! *When I see a
> puddle after shutdown it usually signals that the pressure has popped the
> shaft seal in the water pump.
>
> --
> Will Honea

Thanks for that info...

Larry