radiator coolant spilled out everywhere, engine component causing it or gaskets Options

[chacha]

i tried searching the threads and came up numerous thread that only mentioned the words searched "radiator fluid" "main head gasket," but still no answers. sorry if this is in the wrong spot


i opened my hood one morning and found radiator fluid all over the driver side where the battery and the intake is located and the driver side headlamp drenched in coolant fluid....i opened the rad cap and no coolant. i have checked underneath the radiator for any signs of crack but nothing....the reservoir was empty as well....

first i think these are the symptoms of a bad head gasket....so far no white smoke or any smoke yet.....i don't remember seeing the temp gauge going up neither...i have replaced the water pump recently because coolant was found leaking on the passenger side of the engine and all over the passenger back headlamp.

i have pour new coolant in and filled her up....but i have yet to test her with the chemical test for combustion leak...don't have the kit or money to buy yet...any solution ya'll might have for my problem or a way to tackle it besides buying a kit to chemically test it?

i have googled and read as much as i can on main head gasket problem...but there was too much variables to make it known for sure...all sources leads to a taking it to a mechanic to test which is quite expensive.

if it helps...i started the car up and open the rad cap to pour in coolant....bubbles from here and there (car was started from cold to warm); still no leaks anywhere or signs of over-heating on the temp gauge

if anyone can enlighten me on the problem if you had a similar problem to mines or clear information on main head gaskets blown or why radiator coolant would back pressure to create overflow...that would be nice


i think i might have to replace either or all: *trying to avoid having to take out the engine and open it up if i don't have too.

1. rad cap needs to be changed
2. main head gasket
3. thermostat
4. new radiator

This post has been edited by chacha: Feb 8, 2011 - 7:36 PM

[chacha]

ok...i topped with coolant; on cold start i let the car warm and this is what i see:

(the reservoir has no coolant at all to begin with....radiator is full with coolant...)

as the engine got warmer or hotter, the radiator tube connected from the cap of the radiator to the reservoir was spitting out hot coolant into the reservoir and filling her up and from the breather hole...that was how coolant was found spilling all over the driver side space where the battery was.

note: i just changed the water pump not too long ago...

i read that it could be the radiator cap not holding pressure...so it backs up and coolant flows back to the reservoir? true or untrue?

early signs of main head gasket?


i would go and buy a rad cap, but broke until this weekend...


when does the fan usually come on btw? the car was started off cold to warm....i rev it a bit and the engine got hot...but the fans didn't turn on....(i didn't turn on ac/heat) does the fan only come on with the ac/heat on or does it come on without having to turn on the ac/heat?

This post has been edited by chacha: Feb 9, 2011 - 3:09 PM

[azian_advanced]

as the engine got warmer or hotter, the radiator tube connected from the cap of the radiator to the reservoir was spitting out hot coolant into the reservoir and filling her up and from the breather hole...that was how coolant was found spilling all over the driver side space where the battery was.

there should be a hose that connects under the reservoir cap leading down to the bottom of the reservoir.. it looks like you don't have one or maybe it's not connected. there should also be a good amount of coolant in the reservoir and shouldn't be left empty.