Coolant spilling out the radiator cap?!?!?

['96explorereddiebauer]

Hey guys!! I'm sorry for not searching because I'm in a huge hurry to go out of town. I'll be back later tonight so anyways...I have a problem.

Yesterday, I was driving home from Raleigh (2 hours away), on the way there, I stopped at the rest area for a bathroom break. When I came back, I smelled a sweet aroma of coolant. So I opened the hood and sure enough, coolant was oozing out from the radiator cap...at a pretty fast rate!! I got scared and drove with the heater on just to keep the engine temp down. But nothing major happened but the coolant oozing out of the radiator cap.

So my question is...is it normal for it to do that??

Thanks and sorry again for not searching.

 

[Rob_B]

was it running hot? From my experience when an engine is running hot they usually have a blow off valve that dumps the radiator fluid off to the side( but I'm remembering from older vehicles, don't know about Explorers). So if you engine wasn't running hot I'd guess that either your radiator cap isn't on tight enough or the seal is going bad. Maybe somebody else will know more.

 

[24v]

It's not uncommon for the spring inside the cap to wear out and this will allow the coolant out. You might want to get yourself a new cap.
steve

 

[dogfriend]

Good scenario - You need a new radiator cap

Bad scenario - You could have a bad head gasket or a cracked head or block.

To look for signs of the bad scenario, look for traces of oil in the coolent or coolent in the oil. If you don't see anything, you could still have someone do a radiator pressure test just to make sure.

I would replace the radiator cap anyway.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Thanks guys!! The engine wasn't running hot at all. Actually...it was running fairly cold b/c of the thermostat (I know...I will get that replaced). So the radiator cap will be the first thing I'll replace. Any particular brand is better or should I just get another Motorcraft?

 

[24v]

My advice is stick with the people who made your engine

Steve

 

[Hartman]

Yeah so they can charge you $200 for a radiator cap? Oh plus $100 labor.

Sorry, dealers suck.

 

[dogfriend]

I bought one from the dealer in May 2001 for $12.14. P/N E9SZ-8100-A

 

[97LTD]

My 1993 had the same thing.. I replaced the radiator cap last year.. and since the coolant stays inside the radiator. The radiator spring wears out and it lose pressure and cause the coolant to burst out of the cap. I bought from the dealer to get motorcraft kind and it cost me about 10-12 dollars somewhere. I cant remember the cost because it was last year.

 

[VOATMJ1]

Originally posted by 24v
My advice is stick with the people who made your engine

Steve

That advice is BAD advise. Ford does not ALWAYS make the best parts. Look at all the crappy MotorCraft thermostats. I have three replaced under warranty, finally I put in a NAPA one, it has been working fine for over two years now!

 

[Pheonixx77]

i got a real nce CHROME cap from auto zone...cost me 8$
just make sure and take it out of pkg while at autozone to make sure it fits!

 

[dogfriend]

Whether you buy it from the dealer or an auto parts store, just make sure that the pressure rating is the same as the old cap. I believe the one on mine is 16psi.

 

[24v]

Originally posted by VOATMJ1
That advice is BAD advise. Ford does not ALWAYS make the best parts. Look at all the crappy MotorCraft thermostats. I have three replaced under warranty, finally I put in a NAPA one, it has been working fine for over two years now!

If Motorcraft makes such crappy parts WHY did you buy a truck that contains about 100,000 of them?????????

 

[BradE.]

Motorcraft does not make all their own parts, in many cases they are made by other companies and relabeled Motorcraft.

No every car maker makes everything perfect. I agree, Motorcraft thermostats are junk. Every 30K miles they seen to die, then time for a replacement. I've got about 15K miles on my current Napa Thermostat, no trouble yet.

 

[VOATMJ1]

Thank-you BradE. Your explanation says it all! I will leave it at that!!

 

[Maniak]

As posted above... use a 16 lbs cap. Many books show 13psi at the right cap... but the 16lbs cap is much better...

~Mark

 

[24v]

Does anybody know where I can get a napa truck
to put my ford parts on.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Oh man...I feel like an idiot!! I was at the gas station, planning to get a new cap after getting gas. While refueling, I opened the hood and looked at the cap and guess what I found out? It was loose. I unscrewed the cap a couple of weeks ago and put the cap on incorrectly. So now...no leaks. Thanks for all the advise guys!!! I will definitely keep that in mind when I'm looking for a new cap.