Coolant Coolant Everywhere

So I never noticed it until today... this is a very bad thing. When I bought Bella, I always thought it looked a little "light" under the hood. I know there is no power steering and other things that take up space like today's Jeeps.

I got to work and was walking away and saw coolant leaking, it's the summer in the south and I'm scared. I only have a relief hose with no overflow container. I'm no rocket scientist, but shouldn't that coolant be going somewhere besides the ground?

Also, since I'm probably in need of some more I tried to open the radiator the other day. That cap is like some Chinese puzzle that wont work for me. I'm pretty sure it's original, you have to pull a tab up on top to unlock it and then turn. I turn and try to pull it off but it's stuck. :? It just wobbles like it wants to come off, and I don't want to force it unless I have/am supposed to.

- J.

 

It's not unusual to lose a little coolant in hot weather. The residual heat from your engine will make the temperature rise after you turn the engine off. The radiator cap is supposed to pressurize the cooling system, but if too much pressure builds up, it will open.

Without a coolant recovery system, any overflow will be lost. Not a tragedy - if the air pocket in the top of the radiator is large enough, no liquid coolant will be vented. If you fill it up to the brim, it will vent though.

You have to get that cap on or off. The system is meant to operate under pressure, and without the cap, the boiling point will be too low. The lever is supposed to be an easy way to release any pressure, and doesn't have anything to do with the cap locking or not to the radiator neck. Push down and turn counterclockwise. Use a little muscle if needed.

 

Wow, thank you. I'm not familiar with no reservoir to catch the extra. Maybe it's doing this now b/c I messed with it. I lifted the latch up the othe day and tried to turn it c.c. and it felt like it was hanging on by some thread I couldn't see. I turned in back tight and pushed the lever back down and it wouldn't let me turn it at all then (my reason for thinking it was a lock of some sort). On my old YJ i just unscrewed the thing easy. I went onto Napa's site to look at new caps and saw that a pipe comes attached to them. This is blowing my preconcieved notions of a radiator out of my mind. My father wasn't a real "car guy" some I'm having to teach myself as I go. Thanks for the help though.

Peace,

J.

 

Your gasket is probably frozen to the radiator w/gunk.Tie a thin rag (bandana) around the underside of the cap & saturate w/some glycerine or olive oil apllied a few times for a day on the latch & aroung the edge of the cap, give it overnight, then try a pair of waterpumps gently on the cap. You may need a new cap anyway, so WD40 (kerosene) may penetrate better).

gj

 

You can add an overflow tank (available at ANY flaps) for about $15.00. Worth the effort if you ask me.

 

Weren't the original AMC overflows heavy duty viny bags or was that just the windshield washer bags? Memories of Javelin/AMX daze & still looking for that SC360 Hornet that doesn't run hot.

gj

 

Plastic bottle

 

Undastood

 

I'd guess the coolant bottle is more of a Green thing - it's supposed to increase efficiency by removing the air bubble in the top tank, but I doubt it. IMO it simply prevents spilled EG on the highway from an overfilled radiator.

 

Antifreeze will kill a cat or dog, so you're correct. I still run my '74 w/an overflow.
I constantly tell my nephews & younger friends not to be satisfied with the coolant level in the bottle & to pop the radiator cap at least every 2 weeks. I don't know how many find the radiator empty with a FULL mark in the bottle. Mayhaps a ploy from Detroit to warp our aluminum mortgage payment of a new car?

gj

 

How do I "plumb" the fluid from the OT back into the radiator? :?

 

Nothing to it. I'll take some pics of mine tonight and put them in this thread for you.

 

Push down and turn CC to remove the cap. I don't have an overflow bottle either. I did extend the overflow tube down to the front axle b/c it blew some coolant on my freshly painted engine compartment until the level in the radiator was where it wanted to be. For my '75 258, stock radiator, the "equalized" full level is about 1 inch anove the top of the core. I stick my finger in the filler neck and it comes up to the second knuckle of my index finger - the old "finger dipstick" - works for me

It is good to check your level often, IMO.

 

Yeah, it was just a strange situation. I picked up Bella 2 weekends ago and never had her spit up anything (and it's been HOT). I messed with the cap the other day trying to get it off with no luck, although it did come loose, like I said. My guess based on ya'lls info is I let air into the radiator so she's having to re-adjust herself. Just seemed kinda random for it to happen when i haven't added any coolant or anything. Turns out the little pull up tab on the cap is a lock (i can barely make out the writing due to rust). I'll probably end up changing it just to be on the safe side. Thanks guys!

 

The tab on the cap is to let off any pressure before removing it. It must be up before you try to turn the cap. You must push down on the cap, not the lever, to get it past the tabs on the radiator to remove it.

 

Thanks, I've got a dog and I'd hate for him to get into the stuff. After the tank starts filling up, do I pour it back or will the pressure put it back or does it just sit there happily until it evaporates? lol

 

The whole dog thing is funny. I've heard about lots of dogs getting poisoned by coolant, but It's always been second hand. My dogs have always been in the shop with me, and never paid any interest in the stuff. I've drank plenty of the stuff over the years and always found it to be between atf and brake fluid. Not as repugnant as brake fluid, but not as pleasing to the pallete as atf.

 

If the system is working correctly it should draw the coolant from the bottle back into the cooling system as the engine cools down.

 

Thanks! I knew I heard or read that somewhere. Guess I just need to find a bottle that fits nice in there and clamp the hose onto it.

 

There's a little more to it than that. If you buy a kit, it will come with a replacement radiator cap that lets coolant both in and out. Any overflow will come out at the pressure rating of the cap and be caught by the overflow tank. After cooling, another valve in the cap will open and allow the coolant to be sucked back in from the overflow tank, just like taking a drink from a soda straw.