Coolant Recovery (Help Please!)
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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Coolant Recovery (Help Please!)
Antifreez never seems to make its way back into the coolant recovery tank on my truck. The filler neck on my radiator is wierd. First the neck is at a 45 degree angle (angled back toward the engine), and it has two fittings. One has the hose that goes to the recovery tank and the other (just above it) is just capped off with a rubber cap. Today, after I returned from a short trip, I noticed steam coming from underneath the hood. Upon checking, I found the rubber cap on the upper fitting had burst and was spewing antifreez all over the place. My question is, if there is pressure on the radiator, and coolant would come out of the fitting that is capped off, then why wouldn't it flow back into the recovery tank? 
Does the truck have to cool off a lot for the coolant to flow back to the tank? Does anybody know if these little rubber caps are available still? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Does the truck have to cool off a lot for the coolant to flow back to the tank? Does anybody know if these little rubber caps are available still? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
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I would try replacing your radiator cap. The cap has a pressure operated valve, and when the pressure reaches a certain point, it will move a rubber seal out of the way, allowing the coolant to flow into the overflow tank. If the cap is worn or otherwise stuck, it will just build up pressure until something gives.
For a couple of bucks, it can't hurt.
While you are at it, take a compressor and blow out the overflow line, making sure that it is not clogged.
For a couple of bucks, it can't hurt.
While you are at it, take a compressor and blow out the overflow line, making sure that it is not clogged.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 45
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Coolant Recovery
Crawdad, I just solved the same problem on my '79 F-250.You got the right advice. Replace the cap. I had a pressure release cap and the sealing surface was thin brass. I bought one without the release lever because it has a fiber or rubber type seal. Solved the problem right now. That brass just can't seal like a soft surface does.
