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My coolant reservoir is boiling but my engine doesn’t overheat–what do I do?

I took a look at my engine and saw that my coolant reservoir was bubbling. Why is my coolant reservoir boiling but my engine doesn’t overheat?

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Natalie Todoroff · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If your coolant reservoir is boiling but your engine doesn’t overheat, then your coolant may not actually be too hot. Those bubbles you noticed are more likely air bubbles that found their way into the coolant reservoir—not from the piping hot coolant. In most cases, the issue is actually a leak in the radiator cap.
A leak in the water pump, overflow tank, or head gasket can also cause bubbling in your coolant reservoir. Your coolant system is a highly pressurized and tightly sealed system, so any leaks will prevent the coolant from operating at its effectiveness.
Because there are many different possible causes of bubbles in your coolant, we’d suggest you take your vehicle for a proper diagnosis from a mechanic. And time is of the essence here: the longer you wait to take your car to a mechanic’s shop, the more extensive—and expensive—the damage is likely to be.
But, if you do wind up with a pricey repair on your hands, downloading
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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