Engine Coolant Leak

[Stock98camaro]

I went out to eat, came home, and circled the subdivision (which is fairly big) and temps got inbetween the 1/4 mark and the 210 (? (middle one)). I didn't think anything of it, being that my car has gotten hotter before (but not often). When we got out, my brother's friend said "your car is tinkling" in his english voice... I pop the hood and see a small yellow liquid stream from the thing that says "Engine Coolant Only" (it smelled pretty bad). Any ideas on if I should be worried?

P.S. I washed my car yesterday... There wouldn't be a problem with water getting in something would there?

P.S.S. I am also looking for some GM Parts (window switch and AC Vent). Any good places to buy those parts?

Thanks,
Morgan

[SpeedingFirebird]

Yes, you should be worried. Sounds like your car has a leak. 210 is not that hot, but maybe there's a split hose somewhere. The color of the coolant should be more green than yellow. You should have it flushed.

Washing the car would have no effect.

[Stock98camaro]

It actually looks like it came from that cap. Do you think pressure might have effected the cap? I am waiting for the car to cool down, then I will mess with it. Would the leak come from the area of where it is leaking... or would it be from somewhere else just ending up at the spot where it does leak? Sorry for the lack of better words, I just couldn't really find a good way of explaining myself.

[Rob Bell]

If it's coming from that coolant reservoir, maybe it's too full. Or your car is getting really hot, hot enough to fill the coolant reservoir to overflowing.

[Rob Bell]

I forgot, maybe your radiator cap is weak, allowing too much coolant to flow into the reservoir, even if your car is at normal temps. Just a thought

[Stock98camaro]

Ok, Car cooled down and I took a look. The car has wholes in it (I assume to release pressure... not to stop it). The fluid came from those wholes. I have had this car for 8 months and never had it leak like this (I mean it was kinda streaming... there is a HUGE puddle under the car). If the heat was normal, and the coolant hasn't been filled up reciently, why would it do this? I took the cap off and there was the strip/string thing attatched to the cap. It has yellow looking crust on it. Does this bring any more ideas? I dumped about 2k in it when I first got it, and I am looking for doing things myself this time around. I don't want to spend too much money, but I want it fixed. I am not going to drive it until I figure out what is going on.

[Stock98camaro]

Also, it didn't seem to really start to flow until I parked it and turned it off at my drive way, which is at a slight slant.

[Stock98camaro]

I took the main cap off and it was still full, but a little chunky looking. My dad said if there is any oil in it, that usually means the block broke... I don't think that is the case. I am going to assume that there was just too much and it (for some strange reason) decided to over flow now. I will keep a close eye on it. I think I caused too much alarm for something. It still seems strange that it would leak that much, but oh well, I will just keep an eye.

[lizzardfire]

That's your reservoir... so no leak, you just had a bunch of coolant.

Edit: Chunky stuff = bad. Coolant flush maybe?

[Red]

mine is doing the exact thing. I run around a while, get home and park and by the time i get to the door it is overflowing out of the coolant reservoir. My level was perfect, but i am doing a full coolant flush because i am sure it is caused by either improper mixture (maybe too much water in the blend making it boil over) or just clogged with gunk. It did this after i topped it off with tap water instead of using distilled so...chunk chunk chunk.

I would say do the same thing, search for coolant flush or something and it has a great walk through.

Also, i changed the thermo to a 180 and added the "mix to any color" prestone and did bleed the system after the first time it overflowed.

[Stock98camaro]

Whoa, Thanks a LOT Red and everyone else for your comments. It has helped me a lot. Thanks!