i have a 96 Z LT1 and took it out for the 1st time in 3 weeks....drove 31 miles. on the way home (freeway) i noticed a burning smell...pulled over opened the hood and light smoke came rolling out...couldnt see anything so i made it home and got my shop light out... then all the sudden coolent started flowing out of my reservoir.....WTF is going on? car wasnt running hot, plus i had my slp fan switch on high...(and the fan motor is fine) ?!?!?!?!? thanks

 

Sounds like a hose bursting

 

you mean about to....or already did? the only leaks were from the cap of my res.

 

Oh im sorry I missed that part about it coming out of the resovoir.

 

its cool.....any other help?

 

thermostat or head gasket.

 

What he said ^ ...

With it cold, top off the radiator. Let the cap off. Start it and have someone watch the radiator. If water surges up out ( Or gushes like a gieser ) your looking at a head gasket for sure. If not, I would replace the thermo, and go from there ...

 

brand new thermo....and the rad seems to be ok... i just dont know why it would overflow from my res like that....have you guys ever heard of such a thing?

 

Isnt it supposed to come out if the cap is off?? Isnt that the point of having a pressurized cap? Or are you saying if it gushes out right when the car starts up, theres a problem? I dont know a lot, but it seems that once the car runs for a matter of time it will be coming out, one way or the other. How long should it take? Dont really understand this so if someone could clear it up I'd appreciate it

 

Try a new radiator cap. It sounds like it isn't holding pressure when the coolant gets up to temp and expands, and is allowing it to fill and overflow your reservoir.

 

When you have all that pressure from the cylinders leaking into your coolant system it needs some place to go...

 

You need to pressure test the radiator. You can get the "loaner" tester at Autozone, but they want a deposit that you will get back when you return the tester.

 

ok.... im going to tey this one more time....

its coming from HERE


not here

 

yes, that is why he said get a new rad cap, but you want to make sure you don't have a blown head gasket

 

Did you ever figure this out, my car did the same thing!!