Cooling system keeps exploding

JIM BAKER2

MEMBER
2004 NISSAN 350Z
3.6L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
76,000 MILES

Had shop repair valve cover gaskets and the day I picked it up the top of the radiator split open after a loud pop. The shop put a new radiator in, and the day I picked it up the cooling system exploded again without overheating. Car was never spewing steam out of tailpipe and oil in engine looks fine.

What could be the problem and could it be related to work done on valve cover gaskets?

Thank you.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
12,975 POSTS

How long did it take for either event to happen after you started the engine? It sounds like a rapid pressure build up. About the only thing that can cause that would be head gaskets.
Run a pressure test on the cooling system and see if it holds pressure. Then with the gauge still on, start the engine and watch the gauge. You should not see a rapid pressure increase. If you do combustion gas is getting into the cooling system.

It should not be related to the valve covers.