Forgot coolant cap

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by RoadRunner23, Mar 11, 2025.

  1. RoadRunner23

    RoadRunner23 Bobtail Member

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    2007 Volvo D12 with 2 million kms. I did a trip of 550 miles. When i was doing a pre tip inspection the next day, I saw there was no coolant cap and my heart sank. Most likely, when I topped the coolant before the trip, i forgot to put the coolant cap back on. Truck was driven in -10 Celsius temperatures and it did not overheat at all. The oil temperature stayed near the 180 mark all the time. Coolant was also above the minimum mark after the trip. I am worried that I might have damaged something. What do you guys think?
     
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  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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  4. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    If it didn't run dry, become hot, or overheat it wasn't damaged. Replace the cap ASAP before you cook the engine.
     
  5. RoadRunner23

    RoadRunner23 Bobtail Member

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    Do i need to drain my coolant and refill just in case air might have gotten in? I checked the dip stick, it has oil. There were no signs of overheating as the temp gauge stayed in normal operating zone. I bought a new cap. I did a trip with the new cap on, I opened the cap and i saw small amount of water inside the cap. I didn’t use to see it in the older cap. Although, the cap that I got is a new Doorman cap and the older cap that got lost was a little different. It didn’t have a tip on top of it, it was flat. I did get the new cap from volvo dealer.
     
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  6. RoadRunner23

    RoadRunner23 Bobtail Member

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    Do i need to drain and refill coolant? I did 2 trips with the new cap on. After the first trip, i saw very small amount of water inside the cap. Before the second trip, after i had left the truck off overnight, I opened the cap and saw a very small amount of ice inside the cap. I think the water that was stuck to the cap froze overnight. Could it be a faulty new cap? I did get it from a volvo dealer but it is not the same as my old cap
     
  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    I don't know.
     
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  8. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    To be clear, it was the coolant reserve tank cap, as I don't think radiators have pressure caps anymore. We all have vivid memories of dad taking the cap off the old Nash, and the ensuing geyser of rust. If it wasn't hot, and coolant still in the tank, no harm done. That thing takes like 12 gallons of coolant so I wouldn't bother draining the whole works. I bet there are rags stuffed in coolant tanks. Don't worry, we've all done stuff like that.
     
  9. xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    If you had ice inside the cap. Check the coolant concentration.
    I doubt you damaged anything driving without a cap.
     
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