coolant/water pump question

[Tercel Lady]

yesterday when I was pulling out of a parking spot at the dry cleaner, I noticed a small puddle of green fluid. I did not notice if it was there BEFORE I pulled in, but I was a little worried.

I well remember when my water pump "went" some years back, driving down the road watching the temp gauge heading but not quite reaching the red zone, having to have a friend come rescue me and put in water and coolant and then taking it to my then-mechanic. It was a little scary when it happened on a highway, believe me.

OK, so for the rest of the day yesterday, I peaked at every parking spot I pulled out of on my errands, and they were all fine.

This morning I opened the hood, and looked at the coolant reservoir--it was where it has been whenever I check it, a little under "full" maybe 8/10s of the way up from "low" (but this was on an engine that had only driven a mile, so it wasn't even hot).

So, does the reservoir indicate everything is hunky dory? Or do I actually have to take the cap off the radiator--which I don't want to do cause I am afraid I won't get it back on correctly.

A month or so ago, I asked a somewhat mechanical friend about this, and he said you only need to look at the reservoir, you don't have to take the cap off.

Do you guys agree?

[Tercel GTS]

no, you must look in the radiator
do it only when cold and it'll be easier to get the cap back on right. It goes on the same way an asprin bottle top comes off, push down as you turn.

[Tercel Lady]

So then, what does the reservoir do?

[Tercel GTS]

It's for overflow, the radiator needs a place to breathe and that's where the res. comes in. But as you know water creates air when it comes near boiling. Areas the water flows through can be greater than 220F thus creating air pockets. The radiator cap is normally the highest location in the cooling system so these air pockets will sometimes park right there. Air pockets will stop the cooling system from operating properly as well.

[Tercel Lady]

I'm afraid if I get the cap off, I won't be able to get it properly tightly screwed on.

Also, what do I look for when I look in there?

[Tercel GTS]

Look for the water to be all the way at the top, if it's not add some until it is before you put the cap back on. The cap turns in two stages, you push down level and turn for the second stage. Once it is on the two pointers on the cap will be inline with the radiator as they are before removing.
If nothing else I'm sure a neighbor would help if asked.

[enerjohn]

Originally Posted by Tercel Lady

I'm afraid if I get the cap off, I won't be able to get it properly tightly screwed on.

Also, what do I look for when I look in there?

Just make sure the engine is cool (overnight cold is best)

And as Tercel GTS stated, simply depress the cap, give it a 1/2 turn counter-clockwise,

and then lift it off the radiator.

When your done checking, simply put the cap back into the 'neck' and press it down with

your fingers or the palm of your hand, and then give it a 1/2 turn (while still holding the pressure down on the cap) clockwise to lock it in place.

What to look for now I'm really not sure of.
I've always been told just to make sure it's full (up to the 'neck')
I'd also be interested in what else to look for while I had the cap off.
Hope this helps

[Tercel Lady]

As for a neighbor, it was my Super I asked, who told me all I have to do is look at the reservoir. All the other neighbors I know here are women who know less about cars than me, and my ex significant other who used to do all this stuff for me, but I'd rather let all the fluid leak out than ask help from him!

I'm still chicken about taking off that cap. What if I loosen it, but don't get it off. Then it won't be a tight seal. Sigh...

[ToyoTribe]

Please obtain the knowledge and training to overcome this fear. I'm a female, and I've been able to deal with radiator caps since I was a teenager. My dad taught me. You can do this!

I'd worry more about NOT KNOWING whether the radiator was full. You can't assume the radiator is full just by looking at the overflow tank.

It can cost megabucks to get a blown head gasket fixed. And you can point directly at a low-coolant problem to find the reason for a blown head gasket.

Also, get some leather work gloves to keep in the car. They can help you overcome some of your reluctance to touch dirty or hot parts, if that's part of the problem.

Another thing you might try is to stop at an auto parts store, raise your car's hood, and see if a customer (or employee) will stop and ask what the problem is. They will probably demonstrate the technique for you. Have your gloves handy. You could also get some antifreeze and an antifreeze tester while you're there.

Oh, by the way, the reason the radiator cap comes off in 2 stages is to prevent scalding you. If the car is hot and you want to check the level of coolant in the radiator, get out your leather work gloves or a towel or jacket to protect your hand and loosen the cap to its first stage. If it's boiling over or steaming, be extra cautious. But if you loosen it to the first stage and nothing comes out, then you should be able to safely remove the cap completely. Then check or add coolant.

You need to be aware of your car's coolant level. If you smell antifreeze after driving somewhere (or while driving), then you are losing coolant somewhere. If your coolant mysteriously disappears leaving no puddles under the car, you probably have a pinhole leak in an old hose somewhere on the engine. They can be hard to find. They tend to leak the most when the engine is racing, such as on the highway. I know one case where the leak was found AT NIGHT by parking the car, raising the hood, and racing the engine. The beam of a flashlight helped reveal the small spray coming out of the pinhole leak in a hose. Not even the dealer's mechanics found that leak until the owner found it at night.

Find out how to keep track of your coolant level. If you are losing coolant, get the problem fixed. If you don't, your car could die an early and expensive death.