I have a problem here. Whenever the coolant goes to the reservoir bottle when the car's hot, doesn't the coolant get sucked back into the radiator when the car cools down? Mine apparently doesn't do that. Is there anything I can do? I have already change to a Spoon rad cap. Is there such thing as a reservoir bottle with a pressurized cap? Will that help? Or maybe a higher pressure rad cap?



Modified by Project X at 3:06 PM 5/27/2003

 

Check the hose that goes from the radiator neck over to the reservoir, and the reservoir cap, and the hose going down to the bottom of the reservoir. Any pinhole leaks in there will suck air back into the radiator, instead of sucking coolant from the reservoir. Kinda like drinking thru a straw with a hole in it...

The other thing is the seal of the radiator cap. The larger diameter gasket should seal around the top lip of the radiator neck. If that outer lip (on the radiator) has nicks or scratches, then air can suck in there instead of sucking in thru the reservoir hose.

You don't want a pressure cap on the reservoir. The cap has a small air vent, but that doesn't leak air into the hose.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Project X &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The rad cap should be fine cuz it's new, but I will check those 2 small reservoir hoses. Thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
When I said to check the outer seal, I meant to look for cracks or nicks in the top rim of the neck ON THE RADIATOR. A new cap won't seal if that surface is messed up.




Modified by JimBlake at 7:44 AM 5/28/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check the hose that goes from the radiator neck over to the reservoir, and the reservoir cap, and the hose going down to the bottom of the reservoir. Any pinhole leaks in there will suck air back into the radiator, instead of sucking coolant from the reservoir. Kinda like drinking thru a straw with a hole in it...

The other thing is the seal of the radiator cap. The larger diameter gasket should seal around the top lip of the radiator neck. If that outer lip (on the radiator) has nicks or scratches, then air can suck in there instead of sucking in thru the reservoir hose.

You don't want a pressure cap on the reservoir. The cap has a small air vent, but that doesn't leak air into the hose.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

The rad cap should be fine cuz it's new, but I will check those 2 small reservoir hoses. Thanks.

 

i'm experiencing the exact same problem recently... hopefully it's one of those things mentioned.