Just had work done.

YOU MEANT "BILL", NOT ESTIMATE! IT SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER RADIATOR TO ME. YOU MIGHT VERIFY THAT BY LOOKING AT THE CONDITION/ DIRTY-NESS OF STICKERS ON THE RADIATOR AND WHETHER THERE IS DIRT CAKED IN THE RAISED PLASTIC PLACES ON THE RADIATOR. A NEW ONE MIGHT HAVE A HINT OF DUST ON IT. WHEN I WAS A KID, MY DAD AND I WOULD "MARK" THINGS JUST TO SEE IF THE MECHANIC ACTUALLY TOOK THEM OFF/ APART. LEMME KNOW WHAT YOU FOUND. THE MEDIC

Ok thank you will do....
I popped the radiator cap off and saw a milky foam like substance on the underside of the cap i am inclosing a pic. Any thoughts would be appreciated...

THAT WOULD BE WATER. YOUR MECHANIC DID NOT SEE THIS? IT MAY BE AS SERIOUS AS A HEAD GASKET ISSUE, IT MIGHT BE A SIMPLE AS A NON FUNCTIONING PCV VALVE OR A KINK OR STOPPAGE IN THE PCV SYSTEM. THE PCV (POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION) SUCKS OUT CORROSIVE COMBUSTION GASES THAT BUILD UP IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ENGINE. GENERALLY, A PCV PROBLEM IS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WATER/ STEAM/ CRANKCASE COMBUSTION GASSES. A HEAD GASKET COULD BE A LITTLE TO A LOT. DO YOU SEE THE "SNOT" ON THE DIP STICK TOO? TO SEE THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WATER. DRAIN YOUR OIL AND POUR IT INTO A GLASS OR CLEAR PLASTIC JUG CAPABLE OF HOLDING THE OIL PAN CAPACITY. LET IT SIT A WHILE AND SEE WHAT SETTLES WHERE. WATER WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM. THE MEDIC

No oil is clean. I thought of the headgasket. Didnt think of the valve. Honestly it was just a shop we had to take the car to after being backed into by a semi trail a couple times. We got the car back and there were a couple of issues i noticed and corrected for example the brake fluid cap was almost compleatly off wasnt even screwed on after they did the break lines. Also had a new dent in it. Thats why i was asking wether they replaced the radiator or not. Could it be some kind of stop leak solution?

Its supposed to be a new radiator.

If there is a headgasket issue it happened while at the shop because there wasnt one before. Im pretty sure its not the head gasket though... my wife sent an email to the auto place asking specifically what they did to the radiator.

LOOKY FOR DIRTY ON DECALS, CROOKS AND CRANNYS, BOTTOM, NOT TO MENTION MAYBE CHUNKS OF LAST SUMMERS BUGS IN THE FINS- A NEW ONE SHOULD REALLY BE CLEAN. DOES NOT LOOK LIKE STOP LEAK TO ME! THE MEDIC

Ok thank you for your time i will investigate that in the daylight....
Thank you for you time, hopefully i can figure this out, we have a
Road trip in the next few days...

If possible could you explain where the valve would be

HOW 'BOUT AN ENGINE SIZE. SUBMODEL OR ANY OTHER INFO ON YOUR VEHICLE? (SHOULDA BOUGHT A JEEP CJ!) THE MEDIC

Ok just a sec....

2003 mazda protege lx 2l in-line4

1ST PIC IS FROM "PRODEMAND", 2ND FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS

YOUR INFO WAS HELPFUL, I GUESSED AT IT BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANNY

BLOW THRU THE HOSE/ TAKE IT LOOSE, I HAVE STUCK THINGS LIKE A SPEEDOMETER CABLE INTO THE PORTS. I'VE ALSO HAD TO CHISEL HARD GRAY CARBON OUT OF HOLES/ PORTS. DON'T GET WILD AND BREAK SOMETHING! IT MAY JUST BE A DISCONNECTED, KINKED OR PINCHED HOSE. OR A BAD $3 PCV VALVE. THE MEDIC

Ok thank you very much for the help and info

NO PROBLEM! MERRY CHRISTMAS! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COME BACK LATER (THIS THREAD) AND LET US KNOW HOW IT'S ALL WORKING OUT! THE MEDIC

Thank you merry Christmas too