Hi everyone,

I did some searching for my problem and found different theories but wanted to get your take on my specific situation. Yesterday when I got home after easy driving in the city, I noticed white smoke (not a lot) was coming out of my engine bay through the grill. Upon opening the hood I saw the plastic coolant reservoir (not radiator) cap was popped off.


I am guessing this may be because coolant was low and air pressure built up and popped the cap off. t's hard to see the coolant level where the tank is placed in the ay and it's not very transparent to see through, but the small hose inside the reservoir that's attached to the cap is pretty much bone dry when I pull it out.


This could be unrelated but I also noticed this short L-shaped hose that points directly down with a hole burned in it. What does this hose do? Could this be burned through by hot fluid?


From my searches I realized I should bleed the system and refill coolant. What do you all think?

 

Looking at the pics it looks like an aftermarket radiator cap. Probably has been changed before. Maybe a generic brand can't handle the pressure.

I suggest you hose down the coolant on front of engine. Avoiding getting water splashed on connectors, and injector driver if possible.

Then bleed coolant to see if you still have issues. Check the water pump area for pink crust. This is a sign of leaking pump.

As for the hose it's the cooling vent from ecu box. I'd probably replace it if possible. I thinks it's more of a draft tube concept.

Edit avoid spalshing water into the tube as well.

 

Plus 2 on the radiator cap, get an OEM.

 

@MikeFig82 good spot on the cap and thank you for that... I removed the cap which was very tough to get out and the spring flew out and the little metal piece / pin is stuck inside. I am going to try to get all the parts out and fish whatever is missing. If some piece of the old radiator is stuck inside, do you think it will cause problems down the line? Would it get to the water pump or engine?

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...o-housing.html

 

**update**

Thanks MikeFig and mandyfig (any relation in the figs? lol) for the help. I flushed and refilled the radiator fluid and changed the radiator cap to a new oem one. Car is running fine, no more smoking, and coolant levels are still good. will continue to monitor.