Unable to figure out what's making the radiator empty all the fluid into the reservoir. Any ideas?

 

Faulty radiator cap, especially the top seal.

Air leak (even a very small one) in the hose between radiator and reservoir.

Blown head gasket.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure the cap is good. And can't be head gasket. Not blowing smoke, not getting water into oil, or oil into water.

Time to check for air leak. Might just replace all hoses. I get paid tomorrow. =)

 

I feel like it is either the cap, or head gasket. You dont always blow white smoke, or oil/water mixing when the HG is gone. The cap is most likely the culprit IMO.

 

The way my car has been so far, Its the darn head gasket. =/

 

Before defaulting to the bad HG idea, also try replacing the thermostat and bleeding the cooling system.

 

Thermostat was recently replaced.
Have not heard of bleeding the cooling system.
More info?

 

huh? Are you asking us how to bleed the coolant system? If so, jack the car from the front (not necessary, but helps speed up the process), remove the radiator cap, turn on the heat in the car and turn the car on. Let it run without the cap on until the bubbles stop. Squeezing the upper and lower hose helps it along, too.

Sorry if that wasn't what you were asking.

 

Thats exactly what I was asking. I'll give it shot. Thanks guys.

 

While you're bleeding...

A bad head gasket can bubble exhaust into the coolant passages at the head, this will overheat the coolant as exhaust gases are hot. With the rad cap removed it's noticeable as bubbles coming up the radiator neck that smell faintly of exhaust. With the rad cap installed and on the road it's noticeable as big time boiling over, steam and hot gushing coolant.

Or a bad head gasket can suck coolant into the combustion chamber and out the pipe, makes for a wonderful steamy smoke screen with a kind of sickly sweet smell.

Sometimes a bad head gasket starts by blowing and changes to sucking. Just like, well, never mind.

In any event if it's bad HG it won't be a mystery for long!