What are the consequences of a coolant reservoir cap failing to release pressure and causing leakage?
2 Answers
After the coolant reservoir cap is damaged, coolant will spray out from the reservoir cap. Once the cap is broken, the flow of coolant into the engine will decrease, leading to a drop in coolant pressure. As a result, the heat generated during engine operation cannot be dissipated effectively, causing the engine to overheat. In severe cases, this may even lead to boiling over. Below are some related details: 1. Radiator: Most car engine cooling systems use an automatic compensation closed-type radiator, which mainly includes an additional reservoir. The reservoir cap is equipped with a steam valve and an air valve. The advantage of this design is that it reduces coolant loss in the cooling system while improving the radiator's heat dissipation performance. 2. Coolant: Coolant is a crucial component of the car's cooling system. When the engine is running, the coolant continuously circulates through the cooling channels. If the internal pressure becomes too high, the coolant may leak out, potentially causing pipe bursts. The coolant reservoir has maximum and minimum level marks, and when adding coolant, it must be filled between these two marks.
Hey, as an experienced auto mechanic, I've seen plenty of such issues. If the pressure cap on the expansion tank fails to release pressure properly and causes leakage, it's a serious hidden danger. When the cooling system pressure builds up without release, fluid will continuously leak, causing the engine to rapidly overheat to dangerous levels. I once handled a car where the owner ignored this issue, resulting in engine overheating deformation and seized pistons – the repair cost tens of thousands, not to mention the risk of breakdown. Running like this long-term with insufficient coolant will interrupt the thermal cycle, often leading to cylinder head gasket damage, or even complete engine failure. Don't underestimate this little cap when driving normally – if you notice any signs of leakage, inspect and replace it immediately. It saves money and ensures safety – never delay until it becomes a major problem.
