Why does water, and steam sometimes leak out of my radiator cap?

[Anonymous]

Like a year ago I noticed that my radiator was making a bubbling sound after a drive. I read that it's normal, so I ignored it. A couple of weeks ago when I came home, and parked in the driveway, there was a little bit of steam coming from under the hood. I ignored it. Last night I came home, and a lot of steam was coming out from under my hood. I popped the hood, and there was steam, and water leaking out from the radiator cap (I use water instead of coolant) and dripping on the ground. I wanted to get it on video so I just went for a drive, but when I came back, it wasn't even making a bubbling sound. No steam or anything. Why would it happen last night, but not this morning?

[MrOracle]

First, make sure you are keeping a very close eye on the coolant level and your temperature gauge. Don't let it overheat.

You probably have electric fans, rather than a belt-driven fan. Does your fan come on? I once blew up a radiator because a $20 thermostat switch failed and the fan wasn't running.

If your fan is running when you are stopped, then you either have a leak somewhere, or your thermostat is stuck and needs replacement, or your water pump is failing. Thermostats are typically cheap and relatively easy to replace, and probably worth doing regardless.

This is not a problem you want to ignore or put off - you can nuke your whole engine if you do.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Sounds like your car is overheating, and by the looks of it because your raditor is leaking cooling liquid.

It needs repair asap

[DryGermanGuy]

Either a broken coolant hose, hole in the radiator or failing head gasket. Either way, you would want to have this checked quickly!

[Asker]

It better not be a failing gasket, because I just had them replaced

[jamesgoldman]

Should like I might just be a busted cap, my dad had that on his last car and bought a replacement cap for £10

[FunkyMonkee]

My guess is that it's over heating and might be in need of water.

[In_Trance]

Maybe you need to replace the radiator cap

[laly520]

get checkup asap