{"id":36102,"date":"2024-11-08T09:37:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T17:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getjerry.com\/wp-site\/?post_type=car-repair&p=36102"},"modified":"2024-11-11T10:22:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T18:22:26","slug":"my-coolant-reservoir-is-boiling-but-my-engine-doesnt-overheatwhat-do-i-do","status":"publish","type":"car-repair","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/car-repair\/my-coolant-reservoir-is-boiling-but-my-engine-doesnt-overheatwhat-do-i-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should I Do When My Coolant Reservoir Boils but My Engine Doesn\u2019t Overheat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question:<\/strong> I was driving home from work and kept hearing a bubbling sound. When I got home, I looked at my engine and saw that my coolant reservoir was bubbling. Why is my coolant reservoir boiling but my engine doesn\u2019t overheat?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answer: <\/strong>If your coolant is bubbling but the engine temperature is steady, there\u2019s a good chance that the coolant isn\u2019t actually boiling. You\u2019re likely seeing air bubbles in the cooling system. However, air can create a blockage that will eventually cause your engine to overheat, so don\u2019t ignore the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the reasons you might have air in your cooling system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trapped air after coolant change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you change or top off your coolant, air can sometimes get trapped in the system. As the coolant circulates, those trapped air pockets will bubble up, and it will look like the coolant is bubbling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a fairly easy fix that you may be able to tackle at home. Many vehicles have valves that allow you to bleed air from the cooling system, though not all of them do. Wait a few hours after driving to be sure your engine is cool. Then, open the air valves and slowly add a mixture of 50% coolant and 50% water to your coolant reservoir. It may to help push the air out more quickly if you jack up the front of your car. Be sure to read your owner\u2019s manual to verify that you\u2019re using the right coolant for your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once coolant starts coming out of the air valves, close them, then start your engine, turn on the heater and rev your vehicle a few times. Open the bleed valves again, then add more coolant if you need to. You may need to repeat this process a few times to remove all the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need to know:<\/span>
You may also need to bleed the air out of your system if the boiling issue is caused by something like a blown head gasket, but be sure to repair the problem first; otherwise, air will keep entering the coolant reservoir.<\/span><\/div>
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Blown head gasket or bad radiator cap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your cooling system is normally tightly sealed, creating a separation between the liquid coolant and the high-pressure gasses contained in the combustion chamber. The head gasket and radiator cap help create that seal, and if either becomes warped or damaged, that seal can break, allowing gasses to get into your coolant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the problem is your radiator cap, you\u2019re in luck. You can usually pick up a replacement for less than $20. From there, just unscrew the old cap and put the new one on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, replacing a blown head gasket is a fairly expensive repair. It starts around $1,000, but the cost can go up to $3,000 or more depending on the vehicle you drive, the cost of labor where you live and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faulty thermostat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if your car isn\u2019t overheating, the thermostat could be the cause of this issue. The thermostat opens and closes to regulate the flow of coolant through the radiator. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, it may not open or close at the right times, which can create air bubbles in the coolant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacing your thermostat usually costs $500 or more, depending on the car you drive and where you have the work done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These aren\u2019t all the reasons you might see bubbling in your coolant reservoir, but they\u2019re some of the most common. To properly diagnose and repair the issue, take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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