Hey all, hoping for a bit of mechanical wisdom. I have a 2002 with 250k miles on it. I’m pretty sure the reservoir has been leaking the whole time I’ve owned it, but has possibly gotten worse over time. I tried to patch with JB putty, but like others around here, the leak persisted.
The leak, however, seems to be on the upper part of the reservoir. When I fill it to the max line, it leaks out like an inch of fluid within a few days, but then it leaks very little after that. My engine temperature once I get going is always just above 180. I’ve never been close to over heating as far as I know.
I have a few questions:
1. Is it alright if the coolant reservoir isn’t filled to the max line if the coolant light isn’t coming on?
2. Is it safe to be drive the van with a loose radiator cap (that is, it goes on with 2 turns, I just turn it once), which is what I’ve been doing, at the suggestion of another thread.
3. Could the loosened radiator cap possibly be making it where I can’t accelerate as quickly (which seems to be happening when I’m getting on the highway)
4. How urgently should I be trying to replace my radiator? For the time being I am just driving it sporadically around town a bit, but later this summer I’ll be taking it on a long road trip... is it bad idea to delay the new radiator even if I keep an eye on the engine temp?
Thanks for help!
The leak, however, seems to be on the upper part of the reservoir. When I fill it to the max line, it leaks out like an inch of fluid within a few days, but then it leaks very little after that. My engine temperature once I get going is always just above 180. I’ve never been close to over heating as far as I know.
I have a few questions:
1. Is it alright if the coolant reservoir isn’t filled to the max line if the coolant light isn’t coming on?
2. Is it safe to be drive the van with a loose radiator cap (that is, it goes on with 2 turns, I just turn it once), which is what I’ve been doing, at the suggestion of another thread.
3. Could the loosened radiator cap possibly be making it where I can’t accelerate as quickly (which seems to be happening when I’m getting on the highway)
4. How urgently should I be trying to replace my radiator? For the time being I am just driving it sporadically around town a bit, but later this summer I’ll be taking it on a long road trip... is it bad idea to delay the new radiator even if I keep an eye on the engine temp?
Thanks for help!