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Coolant spraying out forcefully from under the hood while driving: Causes & How to Fix It

If your vehicle is showing coolant spraying out forcefully from under the hood while driving, here are the most likely causes and the parts you'll need to fix each one.

Most likely causes

Burst or Disconnected Radiator Hoseurgent

Rubber hoses degrade over time, swelling and eventually bursting under pressure. A loose hose clamp from recent maintenance can also cause the hose to blow off forcefully.

Cracked Radiatorurgent

Modern radiators use plastic end tanks that become brittle from thousands of heat cycles. When they finally crack, they release highly pressurized coolant.

Loose or Faulty Radiator Capurgent

If the cap is left loose after a fluid check, or if its internal spring fails to hold pressure, boiling coolant will forcefully escape the system.

Cracked Thermostat Housing or Water Outleturgent

Plastic thermostat housings frequently warp or crack under high heat and pressure, causing a sudden blowout of coolant from the top or side of the engine.

Blown Heater Hoseurgent

The hoses routing hot coolant to the cabin heater core can rupture, spraying coolant against the firewall at the back of the engine bay.

Catastrophic Water Pump Failureurgent

The water pump seal or bearing can fail completely, dumping coolant rapidly from the front of the engine block behind the drive belts.

Blown Head Gasket Pressurizing Cooling Systemurgent

A severe head gasket failure can pump high-pressure exhaust gases directly into the cooling system, over-pressurizing it and blowing off hoses or rupturing the radiator.

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