What Causes the Coolant Reservoir to Overflow When the Car Is Not Overheating?
3 Answers
There are two scenarios where the coolant reservoir overflows without the car overheating: 1. Overflow occurs when aggressively pressing the accelerator: This is mainly due to significant gaps or cracks in the wet cylinder liners or cylinder head. When the engine is running, the pressure of compressed air or combustion gases in the cylinders exceeds the pressure of the coolant in the cooling passages, allowing these combustible gases to enter the engine's cooling passages through the gaps, resulting in the coolant reservoir overflowing. 2. No air in the coolant during engine operation: Whether the coolant temperature is high or low, pressing the accelerator does not cause the coolant to spray out from the radiator filler neck, but releasing the accelerator results in coolant spraying out from the filler neck.
I've encountered this situation quite often where the car's temperature gauge is normal but the expansion tank is overflowing. It's most likely due to a faulty cylinder head gasket. The cylinder head gasket sits between the engine block and cylinder head, and once it's damaged, high-pressure gas from the cylinders can leak into the cooling passages, forcibly pushing coolant out of the overflow tank. Even though the temperature doesn't rise, the engine internals may already be compromised. Another possibility is air trapped in the cooling system that wasn't properly bled, creating an airlock and causing pressure imbalance leading to overflow. A failed pressure valve in the radiator cap is also a common cause, as it's supposed to maintain system pressure. Don't delay addressing this issue—get the cylinder head gasket checked immediately, or it could lead to severe engine damage.
I've been studying car issues for many years, and this situation is quite interesting. The coolant temperature isn't high but the expansion tank is overflowing - it's most likely due to pressure imbalance in the cooling system. The pressure valve in the radiator cap is particularly crucial; if it fails, the system can't maintain proper pressure, causing coolant to be pushed out by boiling. Another possibility is that air wasn't completely purged during the last coolant service, and the trapped air expands when heated. A thermostat stuck in certain positions could also disrupt coolant circulation rhythm and cause overflow. I recommend first checking the radiator cap - try replacing it with a new one as this is the easiest fix. Additionally, use professional equipment to test the cooling system's sealing integrity and check for any air leaks.
