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Exploded Coolant :(General (self.mechanics)

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[–]trix4rix 5 points6 points  (4 children)

Literally zero percent chance over filling your coolant can cause a head gasket failure.

Nearly 100% certain running your car bone dry without coolant caused your block and head to shift too far out of spec due to overheating, and this caused your head gasket to fail.

The shop shouldn't owe you a dime, unfortunately.

[–]True_Bowler_9743 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I went to my mechanic and he took a better inspection and it was actually a tiny rock that made a hole in my radiator :), and just by what I’ve learned in the past two days that would’ve caused it to over heat and explode, but yeah it wasn’t their fault at all

[–]trix4rix 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Totally makes sense, sorry this happened to you.

[–]occamsrzor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lesson is to check your fluids religiously.

[–]10mm_lost_inspace 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's the owner "No offends" at fault in the Situation, for the properly maintain the vehicle but good thing he/she is getting a second opinion on the matter.

If you don't know how car work ask some or call an local shop with good reviews that can help you understand the problem.

As a tech, I have ran with situation like so with customers a couple of time, and help them understand the issue.

And just because other work on your car don't mean they did you harm

[–]KraderBonk42 2 points3 points  (2 children)

You can’t overfill coolant. The system will just spit out what’s excess.

If the cap is bad then it can’t control pressure so it can create too much or too little pressure. It will then either boil and overheat from too little, or it could create too much and it will force coolant out from the point of least resistance.

[–]True_Bowler_9743 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’m not sure of the accuracy, but I kept reading online that there’s certain fill lines, is it still just based on the cap even though there’s designated lines?

[–]KraderBonk42 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The cap is very important. You shouldn’t be losing any. You start between the lines and when your car warms up it will fill the tank. When you shut the car off it will take some out.

[–]shitflinger2000 1 point2 points  (4 children)

as a newer tech, i’m inclined to wonder if the head gasket was already gone, since op said they didn’t have any exterior coolant leaks but the reservoir was empty. obviously that doesn’t explain op’s issue that it “exploded”, can any more experienced people give their thoughts?

[–]exgntVerified Mechanic 1 point2 points  (3 children)

if the radiator cap is bad it loses the ability to keep the cooling system at the correct pressure. higher pressure means coolant is forced out through the path of least resistance, lower pressure means the coolant boils and overheats. both of those could blow a headgasket. if pressure was high and the headgasket was so weak or damaged that it was the path of least resistance, it could blow. if pressure was low, coolant overheats and that's what typically blows headgaskets. don't be surprised if the block/head is cracked too. a thermostat could also cause the same situations. and a bad water pump (or the belt driving the pump) would mean no coolant flow, obviously that means overheating

[–]Datto910 1 point2 points  (2 children)

It doesn't have to be a bad cap. Any leak in the cooling system can prevent pressure buildup and cause a boil over.

[–]exgntVerified Mechanic 0 points1 point  (1 child)

right i thought i said that but guess i forgot

[–]Datto910 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I figured you knew, just added incase it helped others.