Kathy and the girls arrived home from a weekend at Ocean City and I met them at Sandymount Park. When the girls arrived and shut off the van, the radiator apparently boiled over. I let the car sit for a few hours and enjoyed the twins lacrosse game. Afterwards, I added about 2 gallons of straight water to the radiator and drove the car home without incident.

Later that evening, I added some more water to the radiator. I left the cap off and waited until the thermostat opened. This allowed me to add about another 1.5 gallons to the radiator. I also fill the overflow container. Tom Stranix came down and looked over the car. Nothing obvious. Said it could be a stuck thermostat in the closed position. If it overheats again, he said to feel the large hose coming out of the top of the radiator. It should be hot. If not, the thermostat is probably stuck closed. He examined the water pump area for leakage and observed none.

It is of the opinion that the oil filter is not on tightly and offered to bring an oil filter wrench by this afternoon and tighten it for me.

He also observed that the rear main seal was beginning to leak and suggested I have this worked on before it becomes a big problem. He suggested a place, up near Players, in Westminster, that is reasonable and very qualified. The mechanic's name is Wayne, but I cannot recall the name of the business.

Tom also suggested I purchase a new radiator cap.

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2004

Answers

I called the Finksburg NAPA store and they have the radiator cap in stock for $5.95. I told them to hold it for me and would probably be in later this evening. They close at 17:30.

-- Anonymous, April 19, 2004