Sometimes you can smell the coolant being burnt off, one way to sometimes locate a small leak is run the car until it's hot, then pull over, leave it idling, open the bonnet, (don't stick your hands in the engine bay), and hunt around with a torch etc. for an active coolant leak that is small often from near a hose clamp, with colour evidence of coolant leak green/red etc. I had one dripping leak that was dripping onto a hot surface of the engine and immediately evaporating, I could just barely smell it, and little pops of steam as it leaked. Reclamped it, replaced that small hose which was failing internally, and that saved the day.
You can open the radiator cap with the engine hot theres no reason to do it with the engine running just be careful I've noticed Chevrolet are the systems that really pop and can really give some extreme burns but just take caution and if a vehicle seems to hot it might just be give it 10 minutes to cool and you're good to go
Liam Duval my Honda Civic three years ago shot three quarts in my face one time in a Burger King parking lot 😂 with immense pressure when I decided to open it up while hot as a teenager. At running temp if it is not extremely hot already you can slowly, although if you’re overheating do not attempt 😂😂
@@jameshunt5316 Do you realize how lucky you are. If you would’ve done that after a long trip in your Honda you would’ve literally cooked your face and wouldve got permanent scars
The cause of a mystery coolant loss on my Explorer turned out to be a failed pressure regulator built into the cap. I didn't think to check this until your video. Thanks for the tip.
2010 Ford Explorer....coolant level in the reservoir was slowly declining over a 6 month period and by the end of it I was going through a jug of coolant about every 2 wks....kept refilling to the "full cold" level but a few drives later and the reservoir was bone dry again. Watched this video and got a new $18 radiator cap from AutoZone and the problem is fixed. Soooo glad it wasn't the head gasket. Thanks for this video. Short and to the point.
My 2000 accord was loosing coolant and overheating at highway speeds, previous owner bought the wrong radiator cap. I replaced with the correct one,no more overheating or fluid loss.
UPDATE: SOLVED. Replacing the radiator cap indeed solved the coolant loss problem on this Honda Civic. We tested it for a few days after replacing the radiator cap and we are no longer having any coolant loss.
+ZipZapDIY Hey I have a question, I have a 94' Honda Civic Si D16Z6 VTEC & just the other day I experienced my coolant overflow reservoir tank level dropped drastically & at that same time my car developed 2 puddles of oil leak, I have no idea of what to think or what to do, or where to start. Thanks! Have you heard of this problem or seen this at all before? Engine is not over heating at all & runs normal.
+Jaydin Rusnack I have the same engine. It might be a blown headgasket. (water gets in to the cylinders) the oil leak might come from the oilpan gasket. try uv dye and a uv flashlight to find the leak. makes it waaay easier
Thank you so much!!! Nobody could figure why my Honda civic was overheating I found your video + immediately bought a new radiator cap and presto! It's fixed. I can't thank you enough;)
Excellent! This instruction cleared up my problem with my 2004 Ford Ranger 3.0 engine problem. I'm shocked, and I used 4 litres of coolant before discovering this video. After 5 days I haven't lost a drop in the overflow bottle. Such a sensible solution. Thank you. I pass this information on to people. Saved me a lot of money.
Hey I have 2004 ford ranger 4.0 that seems to be having the same problem it’s loosing coolant like fast but I don’t see any leaks how is it loosing through the cap I don’t understand
The cap is rated for a certain pressure say 16 pounds. If the rubber seal is worn then it does not keep anti freeze from leaking out when the pressure reaches 16 pounds.
Always, always check the radiator caps / hoses. Sometimes it's a very slow drip leak from an eroded/failing hose onto a hot part of engine/turbo and evaps straight off and you can't find it easily. Overheating can also cause the radiator seals to swell up badly and start to fail.
Had the same problem with my 2009 Accord. Every few days i had to refill the coolant reservoir. Stumbled across this video, replaced cap with an OEM and problem solved. Thanks for sharing this video.
Thanks for the video. Was losing coolant rapidly. Watched the video and checked my hose and detected the leak. It was a tiny puncture that only leak when the pressure is high.
Other causes - the aforementioned seams in the radiator where the ends join the core. And the water pump. The water pump does not fail to pump water (aka coolant) just because it has a leak. The pump has both a gasket and a shaft seal. It also has a weep hole which depending on the model can be located in various place. If the leak is too small to drip under the car, you may not notice a water pump leak. You may not notice the other leaks either. The core can leak. So can hoses, especially especially where they connect to pipes or fitting. The heater hoses are in back and it can be easy to overlook a leak coming from one of those. Good luck, you might need it.
Hi! I realised mine drops coolant if I'm driving more aggressively. If I'm cruising gently in high gear, it takes many days to empty. If I'm fast, It can use all the coolant in 1-2 days. Any idea what I could try checking for this specific issue?
@@HotdogSosage Sorry to say, head gasket or cracked head is a possibility. If you are losing coolant that fast and you don't see leaks reaching the ground, you have to consider that. But it could be the water pump. Maybe it all evaporates before it can drip. Beyond that, it could be one or several of many things.
My B18C was losing coolant with no leaks, over fill tank kept getting emptied. Turns out it was the radiator cap gasket, a chunk deteriorated and broke off causing the system to send steam/vent the hot coolant to the overflow tank and evaporate, then when the system cooled off it would pull whatever was left in the oveflow back into the system thus explaining why it kept being empty after about 3 weeks of driving. Anyways, I'm very happy it wasn't the head gasket!
THANK YOU I’ve gone through a litre of coolant in 48 hrs , heating cold last night and I’m just about to throw the towel in on this damn car of mine. I’ll check the radiator cap now. Thanks for the advice 👍🏻
Watched your video, went to the store, bought a cap, went home, opened the hood, looked at the hood and saw that it was wet, replaced old seal cap with new, problem solved. Also the oil was getting burnt up because the engine was running hot, so thank you for giving me a place to start.
Good news! I suggest you keep an eye on the coolant and oil levels daily over the next few weeks, to make sure everything is ok.. when I hear about oil consumption with running hot that makes me think of head gasket. Hopefully all is well for you tho.
I had the same problem, coolant loss, boiling coolant, overheating, I was about ready to pull the head to look at the HG then saw the cap was melted. replaced it, good to go.
My mechanic asked 20,000 bucks for an engine overhaul, I told him that my whole car worth 15,000. He said ok then hive me your car, I will overhaul it on my iwn
Had a similar era accord in last week with a coolant loss and the cap was bad. The customers bill was 63 and some change. For us to look at it and then put a new cap on it. Which was a bit cheaper than that head gasket job he was quoted by a shop across town. 😊
ZipZapDIY...You're an awesome LIFESAVER! I don't know if you're a professional mechanic, but if so I wouldn't work with anybody else other than you. Thanks a lot man! Best of luck to you too!
very good tips thanks very much dude, every day i filled 1 and 1/2 quark of cooling and monitor for cooling every time I moved my car, and no sign of pooling drifting of cooling every where.... will check the cap!!!!
Good job...I was losing coolant with no visible leaks and tried everything and you were right...I replaced my old radiator cap - problem solved for $5.49. THanks :)
Hey Zippy! U R Da Man! You gave me very practical and simple solutions I could have otherwise ignored and spent thousands of Rupees (I am in India) in expensive diagnostics or even repairs. I thought my Mazda was either leaking coolant in to the engine or radiator hose leakage or something catastrophic, but based on your wisdom I replaced the radiator cap! It never lost coolant level again! Thank you so much. Talking about Tech support! :)
‘97 Honda Accord. Mystery loss of coolant without leaks. So I’ll get a new thermostat from Honda to ensure it is the correct one. Hope this fixes my mystery loss of coolant. Thanks for the tip!
I've changed thermostat coz it needed one n I thought thts why my Acura MDX was running hot and loosing Good advice never thought to check the radiator cap. Radiator cap is in bad shape so thank you
Great help ,thanks! Has the car been in a accident &repeated.Couldn't help but notice sorry. The front wing is a different colour from the driver&passenger doors. Just wondered if I still had the eye. Used to spray cars?
Have an 02 Sunfire- just had the head gasket fixed, broken fan replaced, new radiator, all new plugs, wires, etc. even after the fan was replaced the car was running hotter than normal but not overheating. Now, it started to overheat and the coolant reservoir is completely empty. Hoses look fine from what I can see
i'd check the reservoir for cracks. look for water at weep hole of water pump,, inspect the thermostat, they should fail open but there is an off chance that it is failed close.
bad gasket: the water/coolant passes by it, usually as vapor. if the spring is bad the pressure in system is not maintained so the coolant boils, expands, then exits through the overflow tube.
@@ZipZapDIYthank you for your video. I've noticed a dry white residue on top of my 2016 honda accord engine cover, and residue underneath the very back of the hood. I've read in forums that this is dried up coolant. your thoughts? IAM also loosing coolant slowly, and thinking bad cap as well. Hoses look good! I make sure the cap is on properly..feels like it is!🤷
I don't get it! If a car loses coolant from the cap there should be tell-tell signs when checking on the area around/below the radiator opening, right? Anti-freeze affects metals (changes color) and that should be, for me, a way to determine whether your cap leaks. The only case I can think of and agree with you (faulty cap) is when there is a very small loss over long time (driving) and the coolant escapes from the cap and is dispensed in vapor form.
My honda civic coolant overflow bottle would overflow with coolant when idle and leak. I checked everything from hoses, water pumps, to thermostat... I wanted to do a bubble test with the rad cap off, car running to see if it was a head gasket leak and when I finished I took a look at the rad cap amd the middle piece of rubber and the spring were missing and the rubber left was not where it should be. Simple new rad cap solved my problem
Came real close to losing a couple jobs cause my car wouldn't take long before it overheats. This was after replacing the water pump, radiator, thermostat, cap, and housing. Found out the hose was supposedly leaking too. All problems solved. Took all summer to get the car back to good condition.
Can the radiator cap literally cause you to lose almost your entire coolant? My work van heater stopped working today and I first checked the coolant. Since I had distilled water and new coolant on hand I began putting it in there. To my shock, I've put almost the entire 2 gallons in, and nothing yet in the overflow. That means almost all of my coolant was gone and I see no obvious signs of leaks. I haven't driven it yet to see if it's leaking only when hot. I've had no leaks at all in my garage while it's parked.
How in the world are you able to see the actual coolant level in the reservoir on these Civics? Have tried flashlights, etc.., but cannot see the level b/c the lines are so far down below the battery. thanks.
The engine coolant reservoir level is the same all times, but the cooling system(radiator) consumes 1 lt of water every 30 miles. What is the problem? Can you advise me, please?
I know i need a heater core because theres a puddle on the floor, no leaks but when I fill up the reservoir its empty when I get back home. Not overheating though
So..Toyota put in a new radiator on my 03 Corolla because their mechanic messed it up! What I noticed after that is from 1 day to the next I lost half a reservoir worth of coolant after they put in the new radiator. What could this be? I never had this problem with my car..
yeah i'm no mechanic but replacing the Radiator cap was the first thing I did,seemed to be common sense......and it didnt fix my problem. Nobody seems to know what the problem is.
Car coolant dry and took to mechanic. Two days later they filled the coolant up and said all is well. Forty days later coolant went dry and when filled leaked out rapidly. The mechanic says now that water pump needs parts and then a day later said the car needs a new radiator, but warned that engine may be blown. QUESTION: Why didn't they check the first time around if there were any leaks, etc?
I think i have this problem. It literally leaks from under the cap when i squeeze the hose. So i tightened the cap harder and no leak. Went for a drive and came back with a crack in the plastic part of the rad. The weird thing is its not overheating. The temp is perfect. I plastic welded the radiator and now have to grab a new cap. If the problem is solved ill spend the money on a new radiator but as of now im just hoping its not something serious.
i don't know if you'll see this since this video is 8 years old now, but i have a question: i took my car to a mechanic who said the put pressure on the system to check for leaks and they found nothing. could the radiator cap still be an issue? or is it more likely to be something different?
What would you look for if you fill the reservoir to the full line and fill the radiator put the cap on and don't see any leaks but the radiator over flows into the reservoir to the top. What could be causing this any ideas ?
Same deal with reservoir cap? There is no radiator cap. I have a mystery coolant leak in my volvo 960.. Think it might be a thermosat issue being stuck closed?.. The reservoir cap blew off twice. I may have added too much coolant though. Coolant looks clean and no bubbles when hot.
Yes, same issue can occur with a reservoir cap, although it is less likely/frequent because the cap is not in direct contact with the heat of the radiator. The reservoir cap still has a seal and pressure maintaining device that can fail, just like a traditional cap. If it is original or old, start there.. also look for small cracks in the reservoir and look for traces of leaking at the radiator around the seal between the metal of radiator and plastic tanks (assuming you have that type of radiator) Good Luck!
@@ZipZapDIY Thank you for the quick response. I will start there. I noticed two small valves on the undersind of the cap as well. Any thoughts on a possible thermostat stuck closed?
If it sticks closed you would have rapid overheating, regardless of fluid level. A stuck thermostat (either stuck open or stuck closed) will not cause a leak, it will only cause overheating or slow warm up. That being said, as part of your investigations.. look for evidence of leaking at thermostat housing, waterpump housing and waterpump weep hole.
I'm having to fill my coolant everyday to the top and than it goes completely dry as if if didn't I don't see any leaks under. Checked my oil it's the same as always just needs to be changed its a dark chocolate. I haven't checked the cap it's an ice storm outside waiting on weather to clear. So it's the cap it's self not the plastic peice I put on the coolant cap? I hope it's not a blown head gasket I don't have any trustable mechanics near me nor money or days off🙏 the van also has not over heated and does not tell me when it's low so I have to check it everyday
Same problem on 06 Altima 2.5L. I have some engine oil in cylinder 1 spark plug hole so I think its a head gasket leak. But ill replace my radiator cap and see if that fixes it!
You might have a couple different issues going on with your car. May be your spark plug tube seals are worn. Those Alitma's you have to buy a replacement valve cover because they don't just sale the seals. May as well replace the valve stem seals and valve cover gasket while you are in there.
I am losing all my fluid. Like fast with no visible leaks at all. I have filled it 4xs today alone. We can't figure out or find a leak at all. How do you lose that much water with no visible leaks. Can it still be the cap with that much being lost?
i have a 2003 accord it has a ruff idle and engine is shaking and it wot rev over 5k rpm like its on limp mode no check engine light i scanned it no code ... but the long term fuel was 20% and it was over 15 degrees spark advanced..
This has resolved nothing on my 2001 Honda Civic. New water pump…new rad and hoses. Checked heater hoses…no leaks…..pressure tested system and am losing coolant which collaborates that after every trip the next day when cold I see coolant losses. No leaks!!! Previous owner replaced head gasket and elected to sell car. Has new thermostat and oring….new rad cap. Tested head gasket with blue fluid and it stayed blue….did not turn yellow. I am at a serious loss as to what is wrong with this car
2010 Infiniti G37 and I could smell coolant when it was running and getting in the car. No leaks I can see anywhere and the reservoir was empty. Going to change the cap tomorrow and pray it's not a head gasket.
My parent car has a leak on the water pump reservoir pipe section which is plastic. It has cracked and the crack will leak when the system builds up pressure. It's freezing cold outside and we decided to leave the reservoir tank cap slighly open to ease the pressure inside the system so no more coolant would disappear on the road. But this is the interesting question of mine: Does it have to be pressurized in order to get the water cycling through the cabin heater sink which is controlled by a vacuum valve? We are wondering if there's air or crap gloggging the sink from getting a flow but we also thought it might not work if the coolant system needs the pressure for getting that flow?
Hi, If I understand your question correctly... pressure is not needed to have flow, the reason there is pressure in the cooling system is to keep the coolant from boiling, it will flow without pressure. Also, the system needs heat to fully flow, if the engine is cold, the thermostat is closed so you will not have full flow. If you are not getting heat into the heater core your problems could be, depending on the make/model of car... 1. The vacuum valve may not be functioning because of no vacuum or the valve is bad. 2. You may have an insufficient amount of coolant, there is not enough coolant to pump through the system. 3. There may be an air pocket that is causing a flow problem to heater core, some cars are more susceptible to this, my Porsche has a heater core that is high above the rest of the cooling system so this causes flow problems to heater. This is the Airlift coolant filling tool I use to avoid air in the system: amzn.to/2kXBxv2 (commissions earned on Amazon link) 4. Thermostat may bad, the thermostat may not be opening and allowing flow to the heater core. 5. The water pump may be bad, if you have a plastic pump impeller, it may be disintegrated and unable to pump coolant. 6. You may have a clog in the system, usually these are in the radiator or heater core.
My radiator was replaced few months because I saw white residue all the way to the engine cover plastic. Now, I see some white residue around the cap area. The cap doesn't seem to have any cracks or damaged area, but I don't know how old the cap it. My car is 2000 corolla, and the cap seems to be Toyota OEM cap, so I kind of suspect the cap needs to be replaced. I am not sure exact how to determine if the seal is bad. How can I tell if the seal of the cap is bad if no cracks or damage ? Thanks
There is testing equipment for radiator caps, this one is $216 amzn.to/2HMpZcE I bet you can find one cheaper.... unless you are a shop, in my opinion, it makes no sense to buy test equipment when a replacement cap costs well under $20 (commissions earned on Amazon Link)
What if it's not the radiator cap? How do I run a diagnosis on the hoses? Is it dangerous to do it when the car is running? If I disconnect the hoses will coolant come spilling out? Where do I find replacement parts? Do I need to look under my car?
The layout of the coolant route varies from car to car. Yes if you take the upper hose off some coolant will spill out. If you remove the lower hose almost all the coolant will come out. If you have a bad hose, you will usually see coolant seeping out (or traces of) of rip or connection point. A lot of times when they burst they make a mess all over your engine bay. You can check under your car for leaks/coolant pooling in the drive way but in this case you wouldn't see anything because its escaping as steam around the cap. Replacement parts can be be bought at auto stores, dealerships, online, and junkyards. Only remove caps and hoses when the engine is cold!!!
Hello I just changed my expansion tank and the thermostat and since then I drove 2000km and the coolent level has dropped down about 1 inch is that normal or could thay be a problem
Good luck, it's the first place to start, keep an eye on it after you refill it. I'd check coolant level every day at the same time (engine cold) for a week and then every other day for another week and then once a week.. fingers crossed.
I have the same problem every 2 days I'm filling my car with coolant but I have no idea where it's going ✋ I do hear liquid going back and forth in the dashboard as far as I'm concerned that's where the coolant is at. I don't see no leak. 😒 mechanics is not like they used to be so I don't know who to turn to
I am having similar problem. I don’t see any leak, prior to this maybe 3 weeks ago I had to replace my radiator due to a crack in it. I also have the issue of my heater only working when I’m driving 40 mph or higher. Sure these are related somehow
Hi there ZipZapDIY, I was wondering if you have time maybe to help with an issue I am having. I am running in to an issue with a 2005 Toyota Camry V8 check engine light (only 52,000 miles on my dashboard so the car is not driven a bunch over the years). The last 2 years like clockwork a year apart i get the check engine. The first time I brought it to a show I was told to go to. They said after checking with their computer I have a faulty knock sensor. So I said okay lets do what needs to be done. They charged me $700 at the time in 2020. They said when taking apart the parts they found coolant in different parts of the engine bay (i do not know car stuff I am pretty sure that is what he said). This part of the problem is how I found your video here. I am wondering too what could cause the coolant leak. They replace the sensor and a few days later the check engine light returns. Same codes on their test so they replace the sensors again (for free). A year goes by and then just before inspection time Check engine again. Go to the shop... same code. Now they do the replacement again and charge me $300 just for parts they say (do not know if that is a reasonable price). It is now a year since then and once again I have a check engine light. Also I should say my coolant is about an inch lower than it was a year ago. Just trying to ask anyone and everyone for information. It is such a hard thing to find a mechanic in NY and since I am not knowledgeable (but trying to learn) it makes this soo much harder... especially in NY.
+marryson123 The spring can loose tension or the seal can fail. Even the slightest damage on the seal can cause an issue. The spring tension cannot be measured without test equipment, simply looking at it is insufficient to determine its condition. If the cap is old or original, replace it, they are cheap and it allows you to eliminate it as a suspect.
+ZipZapDIY My 2002 honda civic is also losing coolant. when ever I open the radiator cap, it sounds like opening a bottle of soda. i can hear air coming out. So I guess the radiator cap is not the problem since it seals the air inside pretty well?
+marryson123 maybe. perhaps try what one of the commenters did, wrap a dry towel around the cap and drive it around for a little then check for moisture. also, your car seems to be around the age when the radiators start to fail, take a look at the joint where the plastic radiator tank joins the aluminum radiator fins.
I have a 2006 town and country that is eating coolant and spiting it out of the reservoir. it runs fine as long as it has coolant. once the level has drooped it red lines hot
2001 Honda Accord Just lost coolant level again after refilling this morning. Will check the cap. How about bad head gasket? Car overheated yesterday. Wish me luck
Hi, my civic sends the coolant to the expansion tank when hot but when cools down the antifreeze don’t come back to the radiator, instead air is going to it, as a result I have a buble of air that gets my heat system to blow cold air at idle, I already change the radiator cup and there are no leaks, any Idea what else can I do????? help
I'd check hoses at the overflow tank, they may be cracked and, if you have one, make sure the little "straw" in the overflow cap or tank is connected and in good condition. The problem you describe though, doesn't sound right to me, as far as I understand, the coolant system on the civic is not one that is prone to air pockets at the heater core.
Franklin Perez hi, you need to properly fill and bleed air from system-- you keep driving likethat in honda, and soon will be head gasket time how is air getting in your system? from where?
Car over heats at idle,changed thermostat n fans work.no visible leaks but when I had put water at 1st it worked but then a few days later started doing it again,this time I put coolant in.hopefully it works
And i my car was dropping water level in radiator without any leakage sign. After watching i found that the radiator cap is faulty. Thumbs up.
Sometimes you can smell the coolant being burnt off, one way to sometimes locate a small leak is run the car until it's hot, then pull over, leave it idling, open the bonnet, (don't stick your hands in the engine bay), and hunt around with a torch etc. for an active coolant leak that is small often from near a hose clamp, with colour evidence of coolant leak green/red etc. I had one dripping leak that was dripping onto a hot surface of the engine and immediately evaporating, I could just barely smell it, and little pops of steam as it leaked. Reclamped it, replaced that small hose which was failing internally, and that saved the day.
Do not open when the engine is hot or you'll become a burn victim.
Also, great tips.
you can open the radiator while its hot as long as the engine is running, i do it all the time, never been burnt
@@strikevyyper334 yep , just do it slowly
You can open the radiator cap with the engine hot theres no reason to do it with the engine running just be careful I've noticed Chevrolet are the systems that really pop and can really give some extreme burns but just take caution and if a vehicle seems to hot it might just be give it 10 minutes to cool and you're good to go
Liam Duval my Honda Civic three years ago shot three quarts in my face one time in a Burger King parking lot 😂 with immense pressure when I decided to open it up while hot as a teenager. At running temp if it is not extremely hot already you can slowly, although if you’re overheating do not attempt 😂😂
@@jameshunt5316 Do you realize how lucky you are. If you would’ve done that after a long trip in your Honda you would’ve literally cooked your face and wouldve got permanent scars
The cause of a mystery coolant loss on my Explorer turned out to be a failed pressure regulator built into the cap. I didn't think to check this until your video. Thanks for the tip.
nice!
2010 Ford Explorer....coolant level in the reservoir was slowly declining over a 6 month period and by the end of it I was going through a jug of coolant about every 2 wks....kept refilling to the "full cold" level but a few drives later and the reservoir was bone dry again. Watched this video and got a new $18 radiator cap from AutoZone and the problem is fixed. Soooo glad it wasn't the head gasket. Thanks for this video. Short and to the point.
My 2000 accord was loosing coolant and overheating at highway speeds, previous owner bought the wrong radiator cap. I replaced with the correct one,no more overheating or fluid loss.
Is your car loosing coolant from reservoir tank ??
UPDATE: SOLVED. Replacing the radiator cap indeed solved the coolant loss problem on this Honda Civic. We tested it for a few days after replacing the radiator cap and we are no longer having any coolant loss.
+ZipZapDIY You made my day bro! God bless!
+ZipZapDIY Hey I have a question, I have a 94' Honda Civic Si D16Z6 VTEC & just the other day I experienced my coolant overflow reservoir tank level dropped drastically & at that same time my car developed 2 puddles of oil leak, I have no idea of what to think or what to do, or where to start. Thanks! Have you heard of this problem or seen this at all before? Engine is not over heating at all & runs normal.
+Jaydin Rusnack I have the same engine. It might be a blown headgasket. (water gets in to the cylinders) the oil leak might come from the oilpan gasket. try uv dye and a uv flashlight to find the leak. makes it waaay easier
Jaydin Rusnack
ZipZapDIY wouldn't you see a mess if it was leaking out the radiator cap??
Thank you so much!!! Nobody could figure why my Honda civic was overheating
I found your video + immediately bought a new radiator cap and presto! It's fixed. I can't thank you enough;)
GREAT VID! No loud useless rock music and you explain things simply and in quietness. THANKYOU, THANKYOU THANKYOU. u rock!!
Thanks!
Agreed!!!!
Talking about scotty Kilmer?
Actually he didn't rock. Pay the hell attention to what you wrote.
SCOTTY IS A SAINT HOW DARE YOU
Excellent! This instruction cleared up my problem with my 2004 Ford Ranger 3.0 engine problem. I'm shocked, and I used 4 litres of coolant before discovering this video. After 5 days I haven't lost a drop in the overflow bottle. Such a sensible solution. Thank you. I pass this information on to people. Saved me a lot of money.
Hey I have 2004 ford ranger 4.0 that seems to be having the same problem it’s loosing coolant like fast but I don’t see any leaks how is it loosing through the cap I don’t understand
@@ateeqafzal4444 evaporation
Evaporation? From what?
The cap is rated for a certain pressure say 16 pounds. If the rubber seal is worn then it does not keep anti freeze from leaking out when the pressure reaches 16 pounds.
Always, always check the radiator caps / hoses. Sometimes it's a very slow drip leak from an eroded/failing hose onto a hot part of engine/turbo and evaps straight off and you can't find it easily. Overheating can also cause the radiator seals to swell up badly and start to fail.
Shpring.
He's German. lol
...lol..i heard that too!
It's shnowing, in the shummer time!
I saw your post before I finished the video. I heard it and went "ahhhhhh ha"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Had the same problem with my 2009 Accord. Every few days i had to refill the coolant reservoir. Stumbled across this video, replaced cap with an OEM and problem solved. Thanks for sharing this video.
Sweet! you're welcome!
Thanks for the video. Was losing coolant rapidly. Watched the video and checked my hose and detected the leak. It was a tiny puncture that only leak when the pressure is high.
Other causes - the aforementioned seams in the radiator where the ends join the core. And the water pump. The water pump does not fail to pump water (aka coolant) just because it has a leak. The pump has both a gasket and a shaft seal. It also has a weep hole which depending on the model can be located in various place. If the leak is too small to drip under the car, you may not notice a water pump leak. You may not notice the other leaks either. The core can leak. So can hoses, especially especially where they connect to pipes or fitting. The heater hoses are in back and it can be easy to overlook a leak coming from one of those. Good luck, you might need it.
Hi! I realised mine drops coolant if I'm driving more aggressively. If I'm cruising gently in high gear, it takes many days to empty. If I'm fast, It can use all the coolant in 1-2 days.
Any idea what I could try checking for this specific issue?
@@HotdogSosage Sorry to say, head gasket or cracked head is a possibility. If you are losing coolant that fast and you don't see leaks reaching the ground, you have to consider that. But it could be the water pump. Maybe it all evaporates before it can drip.
Beyond that, it could be one or several of many things.
My B18C was losing coolant with no leaks, over fill tank kept getting emptied. Turns out it was the radiator cap gasket, a chunk deteriorated and broke off causing the system to send steam/vent the hot coolant to the overflow tank and evaporate, then when the system cooled off it would pull whatever was left in the oveflow back into the system thus explaining why it kept being empty after about 3 weeks of driving. Anyways, I'm very happy it wasn't the head gasket!
THANK YOU
I’ve gone through a litre of coolant in 48 hrs , heating cold last night and I’m just about to throw the towel in on this damn car of mine.
I’ll check the radiator cap now. Thanks for the advice 👍🏻
That is a lot of leaking. Chances are a bad cap is not the culprit, I suggest to look for leaking at water pump weep hole.
ZipZapDIY
Many thanks - my mate is under the bonnet at the moment 🙄
I diagnosed this problem on my own, just watched the video to be double sure.
Thanks.
Just replaced the cap. It also solved the no heat from the heater problem.
Watched your video, went to the store, bought a cap, went home, opened the hood, looked at the hood and saw that it was wet, replaced old seal cap with new, problem solved. Also the oil was getting burnt up because the engine was running hot, so thank you for giving me a place to start.
Good news! I suggest you keep an eye on the coolant and oil levels daily over the next few weeks, to make sure everything is ok.. when I hear about oil consumption with running hot that makes me think of head gasket. Hopefully all is well for you tho.
I had the same problem, coolant loss, boiling coolant, overheating, I was about ready to pull the head to look at the HG then saw the cap was melted. replaced it, good to go.
Thanks for the video, My wife's hyundai was losing coolant and replacing the radiator cap fixed it.
NIcE! keep an eye on it for a bit, just in case it wasn't just 1 of a couple issues..
Imagine if you take your car with a mechanic with this same issue, how much they would charge you ? Lol. 🤣
They would make you buy and change lots of pieces before fixing the problem
@@AngelRodriguez-br8vh yep :/ that's what they did to me. Or at least they tried...
Have you throw a million parts at it before they tell you that you have a blown head gasket
My mechanic asked 20,000 bucks for an engine overhaul, I told him that my whole car worth 15,000. He said ok then hive me your car, I will overhaul it on my iwn
Had a similar era accord in last week with a coolant loss and the cap was bad. The customers bill was 63 and some change. For us to look at it and then put a new cap on it. Which was a bit cheaper than that head gasket job he was quoted by a shop across town. 😊
ZipZapDIY...You're an awesome LIFESAVER! I don't know if you're a professional mechanic, but if so I wouldn't work with anybody else other than you. Thanks a lot man! Best of luck to you too!
+Aesthetic Man Thanks.
very good tips thanks very much dude, every day i filled 1 and 1/2 quark of cooling and monitor for cooling every time I moved my car, and no sign of pooling drifting of cooling every where.... will check the cap!!!!
Good job...I was losing coolant with no visible leaks and tried everything and you were right...I replaced my old radiator cap - problem solved for $5.49. THanks :)
Elvis Dave happy to hear that!
Hey Zippy! U R Da Man! You gave me very practical and simple solutions I could have otherwise ignored and spent thousands of Rupees (I am in India) in expensive diagnostics or even repairs. I thought my Mazda was either leaking coolant in to the engine or radiator hose leakage or something catastrophic, but based on your wisdom I replaced the radiator cap! It never lost coolant level again! Thank you so much. Talking about Tech support! :)
‘97 Honda Accord. Mystery loss of coolant without leaks. So I’ll get a new thermostat from Honda to ensure it is the correct one. Hope this fixes my mystery loss of coolant.
Thanks for the tip!
I think you mean to say cap, not thermostat
ZipZapDIY Oops, yes I meant radiator cap.
Yes it's true,Just i changed the cap on my Honda Civic 2002 and coolant stay on his level.Thanks
Nice!
I have a 2002 civic too. The caps do not have springs.
wish you showed a close up shot on the defective cap so I could see what to look for.
Same. I have the original cap but it looks fine. Also there is no spring.
Thanks for the video. Put coolant on my car April 1 and April 18 it’s below minimum almost finished. Car use 2x a week.
Great video ,, yes the cap does more than screw on the radiator ,,
I've changed thermostat coz it needed one n I thought thts why my Acura MDX was running hot and loosing Good advice never thought to check the radiator cap. Radiator cap is in bad shape so thank you
Great help ,thanks!
Has the car been in a accident &repeated.Couldn't help but notice sorry.
The front wing is a different colour from the driver&passenger doors.
Just wondered if I still had the eye.
Used to spray cars?
Sorry
Re-sprayed (not repeated ) error on my part
Have an 02 Sunfire- just had the head gasket fixed, broken fan replaced, new radiator, all new plugs, wires, etc. even after the fan was replaced the car was running hotter than normal but not overheating. Now, it started to overheat and the coolant reservoir is completely empty. Hoses look fine from what I can see
i'd check the reservoir for cracks. look for water at weep hole of water pump,, inspect the thermostat, they should fail open but there is an off chance that it is failed close.
If the cap is faulty(bad spring or faulty rubber gasket), then where is the coolant leaking/evaporating to?
bad gasket: the water/coolant passes by it, usually as vapor. if the spring is bad the pressure in system is not maintained so the coolant boils, expands, then exits through the overflow tube.
I have a 2002 civic. The cap does NOT have a spring.
@@ZipZapDIYthank you for your video. I've noticed a dry white residue on top of my 2016 honda accord engine cover, and residue underneath the very back of the hood. I've read in forums that this is dried up coolant. your thoughts? IAM also loosing coolant slowly, and thinking bad cap as well. Hoses look good! I make sure the cap is on properly..feels like it is!🤷
I don't get it! If a car loses coolant from the cap there should be tell-tell signs when checking on the area around/below the radiator opening, right? Anti-freeze affects metals (changes color) and that should be, for me, a way to determine whether your cap leaks. The only case I can think of and agree with you (faulty cap) is when there is a very small loss over long time (driving) and the coolant escapes from the cap and is dispensed in vapor form.
I really hope this is the situation cause a head gasket problem is gonna kill me 🤞🏽
My honda civic coolant overflow bottle would overflow with coolant when idle and leak. I checked everything from hoses, water pumps, to thermostat... I wanted to do a bubble test with the rad cap off, car running to see if it was a head gasket leak and when I finished I took a look at the rad cap amd the middle piece of rubber and the spring were missing and the rubber left was not where it should be. Simple new rad cap solved my problem
Came real close to losing a couple jobs cause my car wouldn't take long before it overheats. This was after replacing the water pump, radiator, thermostat, cap, and housing. Found out the hose was supposedly leaking too. All problems solved. Took all summer to get the car back to good condition.
Did it fix the problem
What a beauty of a civic!!
So where did the coolant go then? Must have came out the cap ontop of the radiator. No signs though. Burn off? Please explain. Thanks
Can the radiator cap literally cause you to lose almost your entire coolant? My work van heater stopped working today and I first checked the coolant. Since I had distilled water and new coolant on hand I began putting it in there. To my shock, I've put almost the entire 2 gallons in, and nothing yet in the overflow. That means almost all of my coolant was gone and I see no obvious signs of leaks. I haven't driven it yet to see if it's leaking only when hot. I've had no leaks at all in my garage while it's parked.
did you say 'shpring' or its just leaking into a cyl...
How in the world are you able to see the actual coolant level in the reservoir on these Civics? Have tried flashlights, etc.., but cannot see the level b/c the lines are so far down below the battery. thanks.
Question: If it is the cap that is the issue, does that mean the fluid is escaping through the cap? If so wouldn't that be obvious? Thanks
p1zzaman in my experience, it has not been obvious (as in coolant residue around the tank at cap).. unless the seal has really disintegrated.
I had this problem on a 2007 Ford Mustang. It was the cap at the reservoir. Wow! Thx
Hey Chris and Hollie try replacing your radiator cap. That happened on my F150 the seals on my radiator cap were bad. Just a thought.
The engine coolant reservoir level is the same all times, but the cooling system(radiator) consumes 1 lt of water every 30 miles. What is the problem? Can you advise me, please?
I'm having that problem, since I bought the radiator cap at Autozone last year, I may have to get a new one elsewhere.
I know i need a heater core because theres a puddle on the floor, no leaks but when I fill up the reservoir its empty when I get back home. Not overheating though
Also maybe check your oil dip stick for water, could be a much worse problem especially for higher mileage vehicles
Good point!
Ok, did thag fix it
So..Toyota put in a new radiator on my 03 Corolla because their mechanic messed it up! What I noticed after that is from 1 day to the next I lost half a reservoir worth of coolant after they put in the new radiator. What could this be? I never had this problem with my car..
yeah i'm no mechanic but replacing the Radiator cap was the first thing I did,seemed to be common sense......and it didnt fix my problem. Nobody seems to know what the problem is.
Car coolant dry and took to mechanic. Two days later they filled the coolant up and said all is well. Forty days later coolant went dry and when filled leaked out rapidly. The mechanic says now that water pump needs parts and then a day later said the car needs a new radiator, but warned that engine may be blown. QUESTION: Why didn't they check the first time around if there were any leaks, etc?
Ask the mechanic.
I think i have this problem. It literally leaks from under the cap when i squeeze the hose. So i tightened the cap harder and no leak. Went for a drive and came back with a crack in the plastic part of the rad. The weird thing is its not overheating. The temp is perfect. I plastic welded the radiator and now have to grab a new cap. If the problem is solved ill spend the money on a new radiator but as of now im just hoping its not something serious.
i don't know if you'll see this since this video is 8 years old now, but i have a question:
i took my car to a mechanic who said the put pressure on the system to check for leaks and they found nothing. could the radiator cap still be an issue? or is it more likely to be something different?
What wheels do you have and tire specs?
Thanx for the easy info without intro or bs 👍👏
I have the same issue but my problem isn't with the radiator cap and there is no leaks. What do you think my issue is?
What would you look for if you fill the reservoir to the full line and fill the radiator put the cap on and don't see any leaks but the radiator over flows into the reservoir to the top. What could be causing this any ideas ?
Same deal with reservoir cap? There is no radiator cap. I have a mystery coolant leak in my volvo 960.. Think it might be a thermosat issue being stuck closed?.. The reservoir cap blew off twice. I may have added too much coolant though. Coolant looks clean and no bubbles when hot.
Yes, same issue can occur with a reservoir cap, although it is less likely/frequent because the cap is not in direct contact with the heat of the radiator. The reservoir cap still has a seal and pressure maintaining device that can fail, just like a traditional cap. If it is original or old, start there.. also look for small cracks in the reservoir and look for traces of leaking at the radiator around the seal between the metal of radiator and plastic tanks (assuming you have that type of radiator) Good Luck!
@@ZipZapDIY Thank you for the quick response. I will start there. I noticed two small valves on the undersind of the cap as well. Any thoughts on a possible thermostat stuck closed?
If it sticks closed you would have rapid overheating, regardless of fluid level. A stuck thermostat (either stuck open or stuck closed) will not cause a leak, it will only cause overheating or slow warm up. That being said, as part of your investigations.. look for evidence of leaking at thermostat housing, waterpump housing and waterpump weep hole.
I'm having to fill my coolant everyday to the top and than it goes completely dry as if if didn't I don't see any leaks under. Checked my oil it's the same as always just needs to be changed its a dark chocolate. I haven't checked the cap it's an ice storm outside waiting on weather to clear. So it's the cap it's self not the plastic peice I put on the coolant cap? I hope it's not a blown head gasket I don't have any trustable mechanics near me nor money or days off🙏 the van also has not over heated and does not tell me when it's low so I have to check it everyday
I have no leaks but losing coolant could this DE the problem?
Same problem on 06 Altima 2.5L. I have some engine oil in cylinder 1 spark plug hole so I think its a head gasket leak. But ill replace my radiator cap and see if that fixes it!
sorry to say if you've got oil there.... chances are a head gasket problem :( I'd do a leak down and a compression test to confirm..
You might have a couple different issues going on with your car. May be your spark plug tube seals are worn. Those Alitma's you have to buy a replacement valve cover because they don't just sale the seals. May as well replace the valve stem seals and valve cover gasket while you are in there.
I am losing all my fluid. Like fast with no visible leaks at all. I have filled it 4xs today alone. We can't figure out or find a leak at all. How do you lose that much water with no visible leaks. Can it still be the cap with that much being lost?
Did you find the issue with your car?
@@Lights_Out. nope... But got a new car now. 2013 Ford Mustang
i have a 2003 accord it has a ruff idle and engine is shaking and it wot rev over 5k rpm like its on limp mode no check engine light i scanned it no code ... but the long term fuel was 20% and it was over 15 degrees spark advanced..
This has resolved nothing on my 2001 Honda Civic. New water pump…new rad and hoses. Checked heater hoses…no leaks…..pressure tested system and am losing coolant which collaborates that after every trip the next day when cold I see coolant losses. No leaks!!! Previous owner replaced head gasket and elected to sell car. Has new thermostat and oring….new rad cap. Tested head gasket with blue fluid and it stayed blue….did not turn yellow. I am at a serious loss as to what is wrong with this car
Thanks a million!! I'll try these techniques tomorrow.
2010 Infiniti G37 and I could smell coolant when it was running and getting in the car. No leaks I can see anywhere and the reservoir was empty. Going to change the cap tomorrow and pray it's not a head gasket.
Good luck! If no joy, check the waterpump weep hole next (or thereabouts in the engine compartment)
My parent car has a leak on the water pump reservoir pipe section which is plastic. It has cracked and the crack will leak when the system builds up pressure. It's freezing cold outside and we decided to leave the reservoir tank cap slighly open to ease the pressure inside the system so no more coolant would disappear on the road.
But this is the interesting question of mine: Does it have to be pressurized in order to get the water cycling through the cabin heater sink which is controlled by a vacuum valve? We are wondering if there's air or crap gloggging the sink from getting a flow but we also thought it might not work if the coolant system needs the pressure for getting that flow?
Hi, If I understand your question correctly... pressure is not needed to have flow, the reason there is pressure in the cooling system is to keep the coolant from boiling, it will flow without pressure. Also, the system needs heat to fully flow, if the engine is cold, the thermostat is closed so you will not have full flow.
If you are not getting heat into the heater core your problems could be, depending on the make/model of car...
1. The vacuum valve may not be functioning because of no vacuum or the valve is bad.
2. You may have an insufficient amount of coolant, there is not enough coolant to pump through the system.
3. There may be an air pocket that is causing a flow problem to heater core, some cars are more susceptible to this, my Porsche has a heater core that is high above the rest of the cooling system so this causes flow problems to heater. This is the Airlift coolant filling tool I use to avoid air in the system: amzn.to/2kXBxv2 (commissions earned on Amazon link)
4. Thermostat may bad, the thermostat may not be opening and allowing flow to the heater core.
5. The water pump may be bad, if you have a plastic pump impeller, it may be disintegrated and unable to pump coolant.
6. You may have a clog in the system, usually these are in the radiator or heater core.
I had same problem & replaced cap of Hyundai sonata 2013 @ today. I hope it works. Thanks🙏
I have same car the same problem thank for the video
My radiator was replaced few months because I saw white residue all the way to the engine cover plastic. Now, I see some white residue around the cap area. The cap doesn't seem to have any cracks or damaged area, but I don't know how old the cap it. My car is 2000 corolla, and the cap seems to be Toyota OEM cap, so I kind of suspect the cap needs to be replaced. I am not sure exact how to determine if the seal is bad. How can I tell if the seal of the cap is bad if no cracks or damage ? Thanks
There is testing equipment for radiator caps, this one is $216 amzn.to/2HMpZcE I bet you can find one cheaper.... unless you are a shop, in my opinion, it makes no sense to buy test equipment when a replacement cap costs well under $20 (commissions earned on Amazon Link)
Did the old one leak or?
Engine block, stress fracture.
What if it's not the radiator cap? How do I run a diagnosis on the hoses? Is it dangerous to do it when the car is running? If I disconnect the hoses will coolant come spilling out? Where do I find replacement parts? Do I need to look under my car?
The layout of the coolant route varies from car to car. Yes if you take the upper hose off some coolant will spill out. If you remove the lower hose almost all the coolant will come out. If you have a bad hose, you will usually see coolant seeping out (or traces of) of rip or connection point. A lot of times when they burst they make a mess all over your engine bay. You can check under your car for leaks/coolant pooling in the drive way but in this case you wouldn't see anything because its escaping as steam around the cap. Replacement parts can be be bought at auto stores, dealerships, online, and junkyards.
Only remove caps and hoses when the engine is cold!!!
Todd H Your response helps me more than you know, thank you. I feel much better now. :)
What about if the car runs hot then cools off and then hot again and the radiator hose gets hot and starts leaking?
Hello I just changed my expansion tank and the thermostat and since then I drove 2000km and the coolent level has dropped down about 1 inch is that normal or could thay be a problem
I'm hoping that's all that's wrong with mine! I don't see any leaks
Good luck, it's the first place to start, keep an eye on it after you refill it. I'd check coolant level every day at the same time (engine cold) for a week and then every other day for another week and then once a week.. fingers crossed.
I have the same problem every 2 days I'm filling my car with coolant but I have no idea where it's going ✋ I do hear liquid going back and forth in the dashboard as far as I'm concerned that's where the coolant is at. I don't see no leak. 😒 mechanics is not like they used to be so I don't know who to turn to
heater cores are usually located behind the dash, look for wetness, under your floormats.
Heater core is prolly going bad . Had to do my blazer once
I am having similar problem. I don’t see any leak, prior to this maybe 3 weeks ago I had to replace my radiator due to a crack in it. I also have the issue of my heater only working when I’m driving 40 mph or higher. Sure these are related somehow
Rat Attack Was it easy?
Hi
Hi there ZipZapDIY, I was wondering if you have time maybe to help with an issue I am having. I am running in to an issue with a 2005 Toyota Camry V8 check engine light (only 52,000 miles on my dashboard so the car is not driven a bunch over the years). The last 2 years like clockwork a year apart i get the check engine. The first time I brought it to a show I was told to go to. They said after checking with their computer I have a faulty knock sensor. So I said okay lets do what needs to be done. They charged me $700 at the time in 2020. They said when taking apart the parts they found coolant in different parts of the engine bay (i do not know car stuff I am pretty sure that is what he said). This part of the problem is how I found your video here. I am wondering too what could cause the coolant leak. They replace the sensor and a few days later the check engine light returns. Same codes on their test so they replace the sensors again (for free). A year goes by and then just before inspection time Check engine again. Go to the shop... same code. Now they do the replacement again and charge me $300 just for parts they say (do not know if that is a reasonable price). It is now a year since then and once again I have a check engine light. Also I should say my coolant is about an inch lower than it was a year ago. Just trying to ask anyone and everyone for information. It is such a hard thing to find a mechanic in NY and since I am not knowledgeable (but trying to learn) it makes this soo much harder... especially in NY.
Radiator cap...ima check this out now..Gracias 👍💨
Excellent, hope you luck out and it is the simple fix!
why my car doesnt lose any? before its losing after a long drive but now the level doesnt change
whats wrong with your original radiator cap? it looks ok to me ?
+marryson123 The spring can loose tension or the seal can fail. Even the slightest damage on the seal can cause an issue. The spring tension cannot be measured without test equipment, simply looking at it is insufficient to determine its condition. If the cap is old or original, replace it, they are cheap and it allows you to eliminate it as a suspect.
+ZipZapDIY My 2002 honda civic is also losing coolant. when ever I open the radiator cap, it sounds like opening a bottle of soda. i can hear air coming out. So I guess the radiator cap is not the problem since it seals the air inside pretty well?
+marryson123 maybe. perhaps try what one of the commenters did, wrap a dry towel around the cap and drive it around for a little then check for moisture. also, your car seems to be around the age when the radiators start to fail, take a look at the joint where the plastic radiator tank joins the aluminum radiator fins.
Hi its a leak going to put it on ramps tomorrow, as the leak is running down the gearbox on my 206. thanks again
How to fill the coolant??? From the radiator cap or the coolant reservoir????
on this Honda... both, fill up the radiator, then fill up the reservoir. on some cars, only access to top off is at the reservoir.
But I think you have to fill coolant in reservoir till “low” and fill the radiator completely....because coolant gets expanded as engine gets hot....
Well it's a start I hope this works on my chevy Express. Good video thanks.
thanks, good luck, hopefully this works, keep an eye on the levels and inspect the seam at the plastic tank and metal of radiator
Say it is the coolant cap, where exactly is the coolant going. You saying it's going out the cap?
I have a 2006 town and country that is eating coolant and spiting it out of the reservoir. it runs fine as long as it has coolant. once the level has drooped it red lines hot
I have same problem...you get it fixed?
2001 Honda Accord Just lost coolant level again after refilling this morning. Will check the cap. How about bad head gasket? Car overheated yesterday. Wish me luck
Did you ever fix the problem?
You forgot to mention check the oil dip stick
My clio2 machanic says the water get lost by engine as my car as high usage of antifreeze no signs of leaks all pipes and radiator bottle cap are fine
Hi, my civic sends the coolant to the expansion tank when hot but when cools down the antifreeze don’t come back to the radiator, instead air is going to it, as a result I have a buble of air that gets my heat system to blow cold air at idle, I already change the radiator cup and there are no leaks, any Idea what else can I do????? help
I'd check hoses at the overflow tank, they may be cracked and, if you have one, make sure the little "straw" in the overflow cap or tank is connected and in good condition. The problem you describe though, doesn't sound right to me, as far as I understand, the coolant system on the civic is not one that is prone to air pockets at the heater core.
Franklin Perez hi, you need to properly fill and bleed air from system-- you keep driving likethat in honda, and soon will be head gasket time
how is air getting in your system? from where?
do you fill the radiator or just the coolant area
+Damian Hogue If both are low, fill both.
Car over heats at idle,changed thermostat n fans work.no visible leaks but when I had put water at 1st it worked but then a few days later started doing it again,this time I put coolant in.hopefully it works
How do you know when you loosing coolant