Simple, the radiator wasn't spewing water when you gave it to him. Since you weren't driving the car, there was nothing you could have done to make the radiator go bad.

 

I'm still trying to figure how why the radiator would do that?

 

that definately boggles my mind as well

 

anyone?

 

Think about it. All that stuff was moving without any pressure to move the coolant/oil around.

 

^If the engine was turning, wouldn't all the pumps be working as well?

Give it more time, you just posted this recently

 

That might be right. If the waterpump is moving (rear wheels + in gear + moving engine + turning pump) and the temp never gets hot enough to open the thermostat, then yeah, I guess that can happen.

 

It's being towed.

 

so leaving the car in first gear while it is getting towed at 50 miles an hour ,and is probably redlineing, will not cause the pistons to go up and down causing friction which then causes the coolant to heat up and eventually burst?

 

I doubt it. What heats up the engine is the actual combustion process.

I think the pressure built up while the thermostat was closed. Built up too much pressure and blammo.

Just a theory though

 

hmm.... i wish i knew more about motors

 

Still, the oil and water pumps should be turning. The engine seemed hot enough to evaporate the coolant though. But, I subscribed for answers since I don't know.

 

yes those pumps probably are turning. Forgive me, I misread your post.

Oil pump is okay as the oil just drains back into the pan.

 

what if the key was in the on position and the car was in gear, and somehow the car got a bump start?! you can star a manual car with a dead battery with a bump star using the momentum of the car and dropping the clutch. even if the fans turned on redlineing a car for a few minutes would probably cause a radiator to blow i dont know i guess it could happen

 

if the coolant fans arent running then it will eventually blow eventhough the coolant is flowing. i had an 06 5AT coupe with coolant fan problems. if i was driving under 40mph, the coolant needle would shoot up to the red. i didnt think just the fans made that much of a difference but they do. now add the fact that his car was in 1st gear while doing 50 and its totally probable the coolant got hot enough to blow the radiator. theres no telling how long the tow truck could have actually drove it like that. he could be lying...i don't know how well you could hear a cap blowing off while being in another vehicle. if thats the case and he drove it a while after the radiator blew, then he could have burnt your motor, warped the heads, as well.