Magic disappearing coolant
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton
Magic disappearing coolant
My truck has the unreal quality of making the coolant disappear. I never see it leak out and I do have an after market reservoir. I need to put about a pint in the reservoir after driving for 3 hours. I have replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses. Where is this coolant going ?
292 V8, Stock 4X4, manual tranny. 1964.
292 V8, Stock 4X4, manual tranny. 1964.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,060
Likes: 7
From: Glendale Arizona
Sounds like you are sucking coolant in to the engine either from a cracked head,block or a head/ manifold gasket. with the low pressure cap on the radiator it is not as noticable as with a newer vehicle running well over atmospheric.
Garbz
Garbz
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Paul, I don't know if your truck is different than mine or other trucks in that era, but my truck does not like a full radiator. The level is about 2" down from the top, and it is happy with that.
Try doing nothing, and watching it to see if after chucking the pint it stays at that level.
Works for me, hope it will for you.
John
Try doing nothing, and watching it to see if after chucking the pint it stays at that level.
Works for me, hope it will for you.
John
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton
I hate stuff like this...
The level is usually down about 2" and stays there...Why is that ??
Plus I have the reservoir. Shouldn't that keep it full ?
The exhaust smells fine and oil looks fine (leaking out under dammit !)
Plus I have the reservoir. Shouldn't that keep it full ?
The exhaust smells fine and oil looks fine (leaking out under dammit !)
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 957
Likes: 3
From: Winchendon MA
You don't have the proper rad cap on it for use with a external resivor. Go to the parts store tell them you've put on the res and need a cap tpo work with it.
44Dwarf
PS: I like the "lift r Vent" Type as you can burp off the presure if needed with the system hot.
44Dwarf
PS: I like the "lift r Vent" Type as you can burp off the presure if needed with the system hot.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
Antifreeze and water both expand when heated. The old systems were designed with this feature in mind. The extra space in the radiator is kept empty to allow the coolant to expand into it; the radiator cap (and the design of the radiator fill hole) allow extra coolant and pressure to escape while heating and expanding, and air (but not coolant) to be let back in when cooling and contracting.
Modern systems are not designed this way, instead, they are airless, with the coolant being sucked in and out with the heating and cooling cycles. The caps used for this modern type of system are diffferent than the caps used for the earlier ones.
Get a modern cap with a pressure release lever, to properly use the resevoir. It may not work, if your radiator fill hole isn't set up properly for it.
Modern systems are not designed this way, instead, they are airless, with the coolant being sucked in and out with the heating and cooling cycles. The caps used for this modern type of system are diffferent than the caps used for the earlier ones.
Get a modern cap with a pressure release lever, to properly use the resevoir. It may not work, if your radiator fill hole isn't set up properly for it.
Last edited by banjopicker66; May 11, 2004 at 01:13 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton
I think you guys zeroed in on the problem
The original (and only other) owner installed the reservoir and I spoke to him about it...He is 91 but still sharp. He said he always had this same problem with the coolant so he just kept adding coolant. He NEVER replaced the radiator cap when installing the after market reservoir assembly. I didn't know you have to have a different type of cap. You guys and this board are absolutely stunning. I've replaced every hose and clamp on this darn truck and still water disapears like magic...Tomorrow I will go to Napa and talk to those guys about a levered radiator cap. Maybe take a rag or two if I have to remove it hot...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Paul, As noted your truck didn't come with an expantion tank. You might also try bypassing it and going back to the original setup. You can keep the level down from the top to allow your middle finget to barely touch the water.
Like I said it has worked for me and my family for 40 years.
John
Like I said it has worked for me and my family for 40 years.
John
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,919
Likes: 271
If you have a stock `64 radiator and a recovery bottle, the level, when removing the cap when cold, should be at the top of the radiator opening. It really doesn't matter what lb. cap you have with which radiator, if you have a recovery bottle, the pressure will bleed off at which ever lb. pressure the cap is desiginated for (given that the cap is accurate, depending on rated pressure), and when cold, the radiator will siphon the coolant, dispersed when hot, back into the radiator. Unless the sealed system is somehow compromised. If not, you have a compromised system (leak).