Q: Popping sound in the radiator

asked by on October 15, 2016

When the temperature gets high the radiator on the driver's side starts making a popping sound. I can actually see the top of the radiator move a little bit each time that it pops. There's also a gurgling and whooshing sound coming from the upper radiator hose. The car doesn't ever overheat and you can still hear the sounds even after the car is turned off. What could be causing it to make that sound?

My car has 179472 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Thermostat Replacement $157.20 - $759.78 Get a Quote

The noise is the coolant is turning into steam due to low amount of coolant to water concentrations. The ratio should be 50% coolant to 50% distilled water or just purchase a 50/50 coolant that is already mixed. Since you say your engine is not overheating then this is the most likely cause of the popping since these engines may get over waters boiling point of 212 degrees F. Have your coolant replaced if it tests with a low boil point meaning it is not mixed correctly. Once it is drained you may want to replace the thermostat also. This is just in case it is not opening all the way or at the correct temperature. If you need help with either of these issues a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to either your home or place of business to make repairs.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What are the wear indicators on the tires and what do they mean?
Your tires should provide you with a long life, but they will eventually wear out. Every time you drive, a minute amount of rubber is worn off the surface of the tire’s tread. Eventually, the tread will wear out completely....
Ignition switch issue
It appears that the issues with your Jeep Cherokee are all related to the mechanical portion of the ignition switch. This switch is one of those components that gets used quite often, therefore every time you start your vehicle, and...
Front wheel noise when turning the steering wheel
Normally, that is from worn outer CV joints (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/is-it-safe-to-drive-with-a-damaged-cv-joint). It's a front wheel drive car, it generally means you need new CV joints. The way the things go today is you better just replace the whole driveshaft. Because they make...
Returning Odometer setting to actual miles
Hello. On your particular vehicle it has a couple things which show on that screen such as Trip A, Trip B, the current vehicle mileage, and also the mileage until the next service is due. To toggle the screen you...
i have a Lexus ls460 2007 w 80,000 miles. should i replace the spark plugs
The OEM spark plugs are claimed (by Lexus, in the maintenance schedule) to be good for 120,000 miles. However, there are many other maintenance items on this vehicle that have much shorter maintenance intervals such as replacement of the brake...
Check engine light not working.
If the check engine light is not coming on, then that is a good sign. If your dashboard before displayed the check engine light before and now it is not coming on, then the dashboard warning light could have burned...
P1684
P1684 indicates that the engine control unit / powertrain control module memory was cleared at some point within the last 50 ignition cycles - start/drive/turn off. If the battery was replaced or disconnected, it can leave this fault code in...
My belt snapped and Bmw says there's possibilities that's peices of the belt got caught in the crank and is now in my oil pan gask
Hi There, It is very unlikely that the serpentine belt (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/serpentine-drive-belt-replacement) would have made its way into the motor as they generally do not come apart that way, however it is no impossible. There is a pulley on on the...

Related articles

The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Mobile Housekeeper
If If you are a mobile housekeeper, chances are that you are looking for a small, reliable used vehicle that offers good gas mileage and enough space to store your supplies. With that in mind, we present to you the...
How to Replace a Cooling Fan Relay on Most Vehicles
Cooling fan relays fail when the radiator cooling fan no longer receives an electrical signal. A broken fan relay means the radiator cannot cool down.
How to Replace a Radiator Drain Cock
The radiator drain plug goes bad when the oil pressure is lower than normal, there is leaking coolant, or the Check Engine Light is on.