Quite a few problems under the hood! (mostly radiator...)

Question

I noticed some condensation in my passenger side headlight one day at my grandmother's, so we lifted up the hood, and immediately noticed a dark color sort of splatter against the engine, so we figured something might be leaking...on closer inspection, we saw that it appeared as though the radiator was boiling over, and that there might be a crack in it. There's rust in the front of the radiator and a little down below where the fan is. Obviously because of it being rust, I'm guessing that this has been an ongoing problem.

I'm only seventeen and to be honest, I don't have anyone that I can turn to when it comes to cars...my parents are divorced, so my dad was obliged to buy the car and that's it...so I really have no idea what I'm talking about but I'll try...so here it goes, lol.

I let my car sit at work for the duration of my shift before taking off the radiator cap, and after looking in it, it looked really rusty...there were particles floating in it, and when I touched it, it had just a plain watery consistency. The overflow bottle was as dry as a bone, so I put a some 50/50 Pennzoil coolant/anti-freeze in it to the low mark. I drove the car back home, approx. 30 miles and after letting it sit a little longer, I checked the cap again. This time, it appeared as though the coolant had actually gone through, because inside of the radiator there was a greenish liquid now and it was oily instead of watery. So...I assume that the coolant was being pumped into the radiator.

I'm really afraid to go get it checked out, because I don't want to only need a flush but then get told that the whole radiator needs replaced. I'll be honest, I don't think I can afford to get it fixed, but then again maybe I don't know what kind of price I might be looking at.

What could have caused this problem? It's a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant ES with a little over 100k miles on it, I figured that old age and mileage might have just done it. Also, does it sound like it needs flushed, or replaced, or what? And would anyone know what kind of price I might be looking at for either? Finally, I don't really know if something like this is minor or major, so I don't know if I should be thinking about starting to consider if my car has a lot of time left in it or not. I just really don't know, like I said, I'm only seventeen...and I'm a girl! Not that that means anything...=D lol. I'm just not knowledgable when it comes to cars...at all.

Answer 1

Sounds like it needs to be flushed to me! You can remove the lower radiator hose where it attatches to the radiator and try to drain as much of the bad water as possible. Then remove the upper radiator hose where it attatches to the radiator and stick a garden hose in it and  in all the other openings and let it run at a little more that a trickle until all the water is coming out clean. You can even start the car and let it run for a minute or so with the garden hose stuck in the upper raditor hose to help pump out all the internal engine coolant. Reattatch all the hoses and fill with a 50/50 anti-freeze/water mix. You may also consider adding an aluminum (Alumi-Seal) sealer and stop leak and some conditioner to the antifreeze to help clean and clog up any small pinholes or seal leaks. This will cost about $50.00 or the other alternative is to take it in and for them to do the same thing will cost about $100.00 unless they need to replace the radiator, then your probably looking at $400 to $500. Hope this helped! GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 2

First, check it EVERY DAY. That coolant tank is your key to keeping enough fluid. Next time it's stone-cold, open the radiator cap and FILL IT UP emmediately. Then top off the tank and watch it closely as you drive. If it needs flushed, I promise you that you have a qualified friend or neighbor (I'd do it) if you only ASK. People around you can't help you if they gon't know. Flushing is pretty minor but required maintenance. SO ASK A FRIEND if you're short on cash. Only you are responsible for it's continued running well, and ONLY YOU will walk if you don't see to it. Sorry so stern, but my daughter's vehicle ran well until shortly after she moved because "Dad" wasn't there anymore. So she did nothing on her own, and a $5000 car blew up for no good reason.

Answer 3

You really should take it in and get it flushed since you saw small particals in it.  It doesn't really cost that much to do it.  It's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 4

i have to tell you, after reading your post, your more mechanicaly incline than most women ive known, dad should be proud.

now about the radiator,  you said the ater was real rusty. this indicates it needs flushing. go to the auto parts store and purchase a can of prestone radiator flush. this can has two compartments in it, one side has the flush detergents in it, the other has the nuetralizer. the neutralizer has to be used because the cleaner will corrode the internal parts of your cooling system. just follow these steps.

first of all, we need to make sure your radiator is in good working order, with no cracks.

  

make sure the coolant level is full, start car, let it run for about 15-20 minutes, inspect under, and around radiator for leaks. if none proceed.

make sure your car is accessable by a waterhose, let the car cool, or use caution if you want to get it done quicker.

open the "pitcock"  i know it has a funny name but this is the drain valve on the bottom of the radiator. and take the cap off the radiator, agian be careful if the car is at a hot temp, it could spray and burn you.

next start the car with the drain valve open and insert the water hose in the top opening of the radiator, adjust the flow of water comming out of the waterhose to where it is just keeping up with the outflow of the drainplug. let the car run and circulate the new ater in and the old water out, this will take awile but its the easiest way to fully drain the system. let it run until the water comming out of the drain is clear. this will only remove the dirty water but you still have a bunch of hard deposits of crud in the system. this is where the prestone flush comes in.

when the water becomes clear, close the drain valve (yes i gave up on calling it the pitcock), pour the flush cleaner in the radiator, and let the car run for 30 to 45 minutes. this will allow the cleaner to do its job. after this drain the radiator agian, using the method before, until the water comes claer agian.

next, refill the radiator with plain water, and add the neutralizer, agian let it run for 30-45 minutes. after this your coolant system is fully cleaned and ready to be drained. agian run new water through it, till it becomes clear. this time , after it becomes clear, pull out the waterhose and let the car run the radiator dry, but keep an eye on the temp, dont let it run hot. after the water is drained, add new antifreeze and refill the rest of the way with water.

after a couple of days, inspect the water, if you see little black dots of oil floating around in it, this indicates a cracked head or block, and is another issue. a cracked head will cause a motor to overheat, and could have been your culprit to begin with, but you wont be able to see the oil unless you have clear water.

                    

  well thats it, good luck, and now my fingers hurt.

Answer 5

drain the radiator fill it with something like 50/50 and at night put a piece of cardboard under it and see if its leaking. and if it is that will give you an idea of where. but even if you cant afford it a flush is a good idea if there is no leak because that is cheap compared to a head gasket witch i guarantee will happen if your car over heats to much. when you get it flushed get a thermostat also cheap insurance.good luck

Answer 6

i am still learnin the car world here. so bear with me too but i do know that the radiator will most likely need replaced if it is rusty then it needs it and in a newer car u might pay alil bit but if u do not do it it could clog ur hose to the thermostat and that could blow ur motor so stop driving it for now and get it looked at but it is not worth selling it it would be better just to put a radiator in it.and if i am wrong let me know please always learning