Radiator Throwing up

[rsd859]

This just started happening over the weekend. I would be driving down the road temp gauge starts getting hot, then all the sudden you smell coolant and the temp gauge starts dropping back to normal.

Seems like there is a blockage, and when pressure builds it clears out. But my question is how do you unclog a cold engine?

 

[WP29440SE]

sounds to me like the thermostat is sticking. i would look there first. when you initially fill a radiator, its going to puke a little until it finds the level it wants....all things working correctly.
a pot of boiling water and a thermometer is the way to check those things. i have gotten 2 bad brand new Tstats in one day. always check them before you put them in. you can physically see them opening and closing in boiling water, and read what temp they are working at.

 

[rsd859]

Thanks, I will give it a try!

 

[RustyRatRod]

Could be a bad radiator cap. It is the cheapest place to start.

 

[rsd859]

It kinda did it in stages, first it filled up the catch can, till it overfilled and started missing on the ground. Then the next day it blew up and I had antifreeze all over my engine.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Go out and fill up the radiator. Then put the cap back on and squeeze the piss outta the upper radiator hose. If it pukes coolant into the overflow tank, the cap is toast.