UNUSUAL COOLANT BEHAVIOR

[Nissan6Maxima]

Just got my radiator replaced because of leaks, guy might of done a ****ty job replacing it because when he was done, there wasnt any coolant in the resevoir and the radiator wasnt filled correclty...Filled it up myself through the radiator and poured some into the tank to a little under MAX. But for some reason after i drive, the resevoir tank is empty. Then a few hours later i'll look at it again and its filled back up to max again.....Is that normal?i dont think he did a flush at all or even bothered to bleed it. anyone know why the tanks going up and down and if thats good or bad?h

[coolhand]

Did you overheat the engine before you had the radiator fix? Worse case the head gasket is blown but before you panic check some things for me:

With the car at operating temp, turn the heater on and have it blast through the top vents. If it hot, the coolant is circulating through the engine. If not, you may have a air pocket in the system and that would explain the missing coolant after filling the radiator.

Next after the car cools down, open the radiator cap and start the car. Watch the level of the coolant as the car gets up to temp. If the coolant disappears suddenly and later pushes out the radiator like a geyser then the head gasket may be blown. Take the car to a shop that can check the pressure of your coolant system to confirm the head gasket.

If it does need one, the best route is to replace the engine cause the labor for replacing the head gasket is just as much as replacing the engine. Also being a aluminum engine, the heads and/or block could be warped.

[mmatheny]

That's how it's supposed to work. That's why they call it a overflow container - as the engine gets hot and the coolant expands, it goes into the overflow container. Then when the coolant cools down, it draws coolant from the overflow container!

[MinisterofDOOM]

^^^ Correct.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Pull the dipstick to see if there is any antifreeze in the oil.If there is you probably have a blown head gasket.

I seem to remember reading about changing the coolant onthe 90's Maxima. One guy jacked up the front of the car whenputting in coolant to allow the air to escape better.

Also by an new radiator cap every year when you change the coolant as cheap insurance.

By the way I dont put any water at all in my radiator. I use 100%antifreeze with no water mixture. I hope this will help the inside ofthe engine from not rusting. The antifreeze wont protect as well from freezing as a 50-50 mix but it just doesnt get that cold here.

[mmatheny]

Also, 100% antifreeze doesn't cool as well either, that's why they specify a 50/50 mixture.