Coolant boils out reservoir if Idling for twenty minutes

PANMIKE

MEMBER
2002 KIA RIO
1.6L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

Stopped for my wife to complete some forms at a government facility and after twenty minutes with the air conditioner on in the sun the car boils over from the reservoir plastic white tank. This happens almost every year. Have tried engine block stop leak and seemed to work for about two years.

Monday, April 2nd, 2018 AT 11:01 AM

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

First thing you need to check is the cooling fans. Are they working correctly?

Next is radiator cap, it could be weak. Stop leak does not solve overheating problems, they only assist in stopping minor leaks. When coolant is depleted, overheating would occur. Do you have coolant losses issues?

The radiator, water pump and thermostat are other components you need to check/test for fault.

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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 AT 1:48 AM

PANMIKE

MEMBER
31 POSTS

The coolant is full, new, and not dirty. The two fans, one for the radiator and one for the A/C condenser in front of the radiator are working. The sensor is new or close one year old, fuses checked and changed a month ago. All appears to be working normally. It boils out the white reservoir tank after sitting idling for thirty minutes.

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Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018 AT 10:52 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
50,041 POSTS

Yep sounds like a blown head gasket we can firm the failure by following this guide.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken

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Thursday, April 5th, 2018 AT 3:43 PM