Is this possible? Why is there no "over-fill" tube that lets excess come out?

I remember checking my coolant before and it was higher than it should be and when I took off the radiator cap, it started flowing out...and right now I just checked the reservoir, and the level is about 1/4-1/2 inch higher than the word MAX. printed on the side.

STUPID question, but is this "bad?"

 

Was the engine still hot when you removed the cap??? IMO the overflow is higher because it did boil over, the fluid came out the radiator cap because it was still hot, check the radiator and I'll bet it's low. There is no other magical place for the fluid to go (unless you have a leak), I recommend ensuring your levels are correct and watching your temp gage the next time you drive and see if your engine is running hotter than normal... (thermostat could be suspect)

 

ya, the engine was still hot, but the fluid was not "hot."

My temp gauge is always the same, but my main concern is if it's "bad" that there is more coolant in the reservoir than there should be?

 

Then the thermostat may be failing IMO, but then again the car would be running hotter than normal...

 

The only thing that will hapen is that if it really does overheat it will come out the top of your overheat bottle into your engine bay. You could always pull the hose and fill it to proper level and go from there.

 

Come to think of it, there was coolant crud by the actual reservoir. I think I may drain some now