rad problems

When I got home last night I could hear a bubbling noise coming from the engine. Coolant was being dumped into the plastic catch tank. The temp indicator had not gone any higher than usual.

I waited for the engine to cool down and opened the rad cap.

This has broken into bits and some of them are in the radiator (spring and washer).

I don't know how long it has been like this (I checked it on Sunday).

I have ordered a new rad cap, I presume the bits will be in the radiator and I need to take it off to get them out. Could they have done any damage to anything? I presume driving with them in there (after changing cap) would be a bad idea?

Any advice?

I would back flush the radiator if I were you, get it cleaned out

So flush the radiator and replace the cap?

Cheers.

got a new rad cap and some of the bits out the rad but still missing a spring. drove it to work slowly, no overheating, no funny noises, no drop in coolant.

Should I leave it til it gets serviced in the next couple of weeks or should I flush it out and find this spring now?

I have been told it would be ok but not sure myself.

got a new rad cap and some of the bits out the rad but still missing a spring. drove it to work slowly, no overheating, no funny noises, no drop in coolant.

 

Should I leave it til it gets serviced in the next couple of weeks or should I flush it out and find this spring now?

 

I have been told it would be ok but not sure myself.

what did you do in the end jim?

i've just lost my spring into the rad too when replacing the cap

I worried about it then left it. Been told it won't go anywhere bad. Going to get it flushed out at next service. It's been a while now with no problems. See C.W. post in your thread about this.