Thoughts on coolant caps

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Feb 14, 2014 | 09:08 AM

Iaff113

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Laughing Gas

Joined: Oct 2012

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From: Frederick MD

Thoughts on coolant caps

How Often do most of you change your resivor coolant caps. I have been doing mine twice a year. Also do you replace with OEM or stant caps.

Feb 14, 2014 | 09:23 AM

loubell

Mountain Pass

Joined: Sep 2005

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twice a year?
I ran the original cap and bottle for 8 years/150K miles.
The bottle developed a small crack in the back of it, so 2 years ago I bought a Dorman bottle w/cap from Rockauto. Still going strong.

Feb 14, 2014 | 09:53 AM

mhoefer

Postmaster

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 4,424

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From: BC Canada

Still on original on a 2005. But this truck has Been on the low mark since shortly after purchase, when they put on the new sticker. Partial coolant flush at 50k miles, full flush at 100k, coolant filter since 2007.

Feb 14, 2014 | 10:07 AM

Iaff113

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Oct 2012

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From: Frederick MD

The only reason I change it is because it's cheap and wasn't sure the life on the springs I don't have a pressure tester so I don't know

Feb 14, 2014 | 10:25 AM

texastech_diesel

Token Redneck

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 9,335

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From: Breckenridge, TX

Once at the 60k coolant flush, just cause I felt like it. Shouldn't need to unless it fails and you get a whistle from it

Feb 14, 2014 | 10:39 AM

Fal-308-Win

Posting Guru

Joined: Jun 2012

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From: Nor Cal

200k on original cap. My dedicated pressure gauge still shows 8/10 psi while running.

Feb 15, 2014 | 11:56 AM

Texas Bob

Tuned

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 294

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From: Double Oak, TX

I took my OEM cap to O'Reilly's and they tested it and it could only hold 12 PSI and the spec is 16 PSI. I replaced it with a Stant because that's what I have been using for 50 years on everything I own. O'Reilly's did not carry Stant so I went to NAPA and picked one up. This was at 83K about a year ago.

Some have said that 12 PSI is OK. But it does appear that you may be burning money for something that does not require replacement very often. If you are unsure, have it tested.