Exploding radiator

CLOWNLUVERZ

MEMBER
1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
4 CYL
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

Hi I have a 1998 Toyota Camry that has been extremly well maintianed. I was driving the car about 75 miles per day. When I started the car on a particular morning the check engine light came on and it stalled out, then I tried again the light went off and the car started. When I got off of the freeway after about 60 miles, I heard a loud bang and then saw white smoke, thinking it was my radiator I looked at the temperature gauge and it was not registering high. When I got the car to the side of the road and got the radiator cap off I noticed that there was a brown sludge inside the cap. The radiator had exploded from the side out and blown the same brown sludge onto the inside hood of the car. When the mechanic looked at the vehicle he stated to me that brown sludge had not made it to the engine, or any part of the car. So in his opinion it hadnt been there long. The car was in the shop the week before for a snapped cable on the emergencybrake that was engaged while driving. The car was run throught he diagnostics machine the week beofre and nothing registered. Can you tell me what this issue sounds like to you?

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,645 POSTS

TO me it sounds like the brown sludge came from the coolant that came out when the radiator let go. Today, radiators are made with plastic. The center is aluminum with plastic tanks on the sides. Between the two is a rubber gasket and then it is pinched together. Although they usually only leak over the years, what you described is possible. If the white smoke came from under the hood and not the exhaust, I would recommend cleaning things up, replace the radiator, and see if everything is okay.