. “Steam Coming from Front Side of My Santro — Radiator Cap Issue o r Radiator Leak?”

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. “Steam Coming from Front Side of My Santro — Radiator Cap Issue o r Radiator Leak?”

Yesterday, I saw steam coming from the front of my Hyundai Santro while in traffic. The temperature needle was slightly above normal, and I noticed coolant smell. A mechanic told me that a weak radiator cap o r a cracked radiator neck can cause pressure loss, which leads to boiling. In Santros, is the radiator cap a common failure point, o r should I check for leaks in the radiator itself? What’s the typical fix in Pakistan?

Talha Kyanii asked on 05 Dec 2025 12:47:31 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 05 Dec 2025 12:49:10 pm

Steam from the front area usually indicates pressure loss o r boiling due to a leak.

Most likely reasons:

Weak radiator cap
– Very common and inexpensive to fix. If the cap can’t hold pressure, coolant boils early and creates steam.
✔ Fix: Replace cap immediately.

Cracked radiator neck o r top tank
– Santro radiators often crack near the cap area.
✔ Fix: Replace radiator repair may not last.

Radiator leak under pressure
– Small leaks open up when engine is hot.
✔ Fix: Do a hot-pressure test.

Overfilled coolant o r wrong mixture
– Tap water + low pressure = boiling.
✔ Fix: Use coolant + distilled water 50/50.

Most common fix in Pakistan:

Replacing the radiator cap and checking radiator top-tank for cracks usually stops the steam issue.