a leaking radiator. car didnt overheat?

[vash]

i recently changed my MIL's oil and filters. i mentioned to her that her coolant reservoir was bone dry. she topped it off, and shutting the hood, managed to crush the reservoir. not sure what she did.

i ordered a new one and installed it yesterday. this time i noted the upper radiator tank wet with coolant. oh-o! i started the car and let it warm up. it barely warmed up and it just started dripping coolant from the upper tank seal. a big drip ever second.

she said her operating temps were normal. if a system is losing pressure wont it boil over? was the leak still to small to affect pressure?

i'm gone soon, so i ordered a new one and changed it out last night. awful, kinda slimy job. no careful drip pan layouts can catch coolant when you have to harshly yank off radiator hoses.. the clean up afterwards was equally as bad.

wet cat litter is a mess to sweep.

[masraum]

You can potentially drive a car for many, many months with a slow leak without seriously affecting cooling performance. A leak that is a drip is probably a very small leak, otherwise it would be a tiny spray. I doubt you were losing much pressure. Most cars have enough cooling capacity to where it's not a problem.

[rusnak]

You might have the system pressure tested, or try a new radiator cap.

[mattdavis11]

It won't boil unless it is pure water and the temperature is 212F. Pressure is not needed much anymore as the reservoir is typically higher up than the top of the radiator. Some vehicles have no radiator cap, and a vented overflow cap on the reservoir.