What causes the antifreeze reservoir to boil over?
2 Answers
The reasons for the antifreeze reservoir boiling over are: 1. The radiator stops functioning, causing the water temperature to become too high; 2. The antifreeze is not circulating, the thermostat is not opening, or the water pump is not working properly, leading to blockage in the water circulation pipeline; 3. Insufficient antifreeze or poor-quality antifreeze with a low boiling point, making it prone to boiling over. The full name of antifreeze is antifreeze coolant, meaning it is a coolant with antifreeze properties. It prevents the coolant from freezing and expanding in cold winter conditions, which could crack the radiator or damage the engine cylinder block or head. Antifreeze is a type of coolant containing special additives, mainly used in liquid-cooled engine cooling systems. It offers excellent performance in preventing freezing in winter, boiling in summer, and protecting against scale and corrosion throughout the year.
I've encountered the issue of the coolant reservoir boiling over several times. It's mainly caused by engine overheating, such as when the cooling system malfunctions, the thermostat gets stuck in the closed position, or the radiator fan fails to rotate and cool down. Another cause could be insufficient coolant level, leading to poor circulation and a rapid temperature rise. There might also be air bubbles or blockages in the system, preventing the coolant from flowing properly to dissipate heat. Once boiling occurs, the dashboard temperature gauge will turn red as a warning. If not addressed promptly, prolonged high temperatures can damage the cylinder head gasket or pistons, resulting in costly and time-consuming repairs. This problem is more likely to occur during hot summer days. My advice is to wait for the car to cool down after parking, then check the coolant level and color. Top it up if it's low, and seek repairs if anything seems abnormal. Regular maintenance of the radiator and fan can prevent such issues—don't wait until you're stranded on the road to regret it.