Small Coolant Leak From Rad. Cap

[daniel3507]

Ive noticed that I have a small coolant leak coming from right under the radiator cap. It looks like it comes from the small hose thats right under the cap and drips from the plastic part right under the hose. I was thinking it might just be a bad radiator cap but am not real sure. Found a pic online and tried to point to the problem area. any thoughts on a cause of it?

 

[trail B2]

Radiator caps aren't that expensive throw a new one on make sure where it seats is clean in the radiator.What your experiencing can be a bad head gasket so hope that's not it.

 

[daniel3507]

I sure as hell hope it isnt a head gasket problem but after i read that i went and looked at the bottom of my oil cap and it looked like it had a little green to it. I even asked a couple other people and they said the same. I really hope that isnt the problem, but if it is I have had my eye on the stage 1 heads from Tom Morana.

 

[Big Jim M]

A litle radiator info.

The little hose MUST be intact for the radiator system to work properly. What happens is as the coolant heats up it EXPANDS and the cap allows excess coolant to flow back into the coolant jug. Then later when cooling the coolant SHRINKS and is SUCKED back into the system out of the jug.

So if the hose isn't intact the excess coolant drips out onto the ground.. then when cooling AIR is sucked back into the engine. AIR is what causes burnt headgaskets and also causes cracked heads..

The point of this dissertation is: FIX IT and fix it soon!! After installing a new hose check the radiator coolant level and check it often to make sure the radiator stays full.
Big JIm

 

[r1hatman]

Put a little metal clamp on the bypass tube, but don't tighten to much and get a new cap. They do wear out. If it is the plastic tit itself, that 2 part epoxy will work, just let it cure good before running it.

 

[daniel3507]

Im gonna go get a new hose and radiator cap today and hope for the best.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Park it on a steep incline whenever you fill it with coolant if possible to burp it. Keep the cap off and run it for a while so you are sure it is completely full and keep the reservor up to the line hot with 50/50 coolant.