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Why is my radiator needing so much water?

  

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My car is a toyota land cruiser 2007 with over 179,000 mileage manual transmission. A few days ago while I was driving, the alternator light came on the dashboard, I pulled over and checked the bonnet and saw that the alternator belts had cut. I got an auto mechanic to fix the alternator belts and the light on the dashboard went off and the car was working normally. By the time I drove it home, which was about 15 minutes later, I heard noises under the bonnet like hot water boiling. About 3 hours later, I checked the radiator and observed that there was almost no water and I put in a lot of water into the radiator. By the time I drove it the following day, the radiator was almost empty. My observation is anytime the car is cool and stationary when I fill the radiator there is no leak, but when I drive it for about 30 minutes or more and I park the car and check the radiator after the car has cooled down, the water is gone. While I am driving, the temperature gauge is fine, the engine does not overheat, sometimes I hear the hot water sound when I get to my destination, sometimes I don't, actually most times I don't. I don't see any pool of water underneath the car when I park. My auto mechanic checked, he couldn't find what was wrong on a visible inspection. One thing I just observed today is that the radiator cap used to be really tight, but since the incident its not as tight, it's kind of freer to open and close,but I am not sure if this could have anything to do with it, but the water in the radiator is still disappearing rapidly and I have to fill it more than once a day.  Can you assist and point me in the right direction.

 


3 Answers
3

I would seriously consider a new, $10 radiator cap.


Many thanks and happy new year.


2

If the problem is not the radiator cap, pressure test your cooling system for leaks. Hoses, water pump seals, etc. can deteriorate over 16 years time. If there are no leaks it's time to start thinking about a head gasket or cracked cylinder head. (The coolant is either leaking or burning - there are no other choices.)


Noted with thanks. Have a happy new year.


1
Posted by: @michyin

 I put in a lot of water into the radiator. ... the radiator cap used to be really tight, but since the incident its not as tight, it's kind of freer to open and close,but I am not sure if this could have anything to do with it

Of course it does .The cap keeps coolant where it belongs.


Noted with thanks. Happy new year.


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