These pieces should be relatively easy to move while still having some resistance. Inspect the seals on the cap for damage, cracking, or any other signs of wear - is the seal hard or brittle, for instance.Īdditionally, check inside the radiator cap to ensure other components like the valve, plunger, and spring aren't damaged or worn out. Once you're sure the radiator cap has cooled off, you can remove the cap and check for damage. Fortunately, radiator caps' safety features on modern cars have reduced the number of serious injuries connected to radiators. related to car radiators resulted from removing the cap on an overheated radiator. ![]() It can be dangerous to remove a hot radiator cap, as the pressurized radiator coolant can reach temperatures of 245✯ to 265✯ and come spraying out when you remove the radiator cap.Ī study published in 2016 found that 66% of injuries in the U.S. ![]() Additionally, a bad radiator cap - one with a poor seal - can create air pockets within the cooling system, which may cause the engine to overheat.īefore you check if a radiator cap is bad, be sure the cap and the engine have cooled off. This uneven pressure can cause radiator hoses to burst or tear.Ī radiator cap that's not correctly maintaining pressure can lead to an overheated engine. This lack of pressure can cause the coolant tank to overflow.Ī bad radiator cap may trigger ups and downs in radiator pressure. When the cap is faulty, coolant can flow to the reservoir without releasing excess pressure, leading to a lack of necessary pressure in the radiator. If the coolant reservoir is overflowing, a bad radiator cap may be the culprit. The leak may be the result of the cap failing to keep radiator pressure from escaping. The streaks indicate coolant has leaked out of the radiator. White streaks on the radiator could spell trouble with the radiator cap. If you see that your radiator cap is damaged or worn out, it's probably time to get a new one. A coolant leak can happen around the radiator or radiator cap if the cap isn't adequately releasing pressure from the radiator. If you notice the coolant is leaking, it may signal that your radiator cap needs to be replaced. Here's how to tell if a radiator cap is bad. Several symptoms can point to a bad radiator cap.
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