I need to know which radiator cap I need to get...I ordered a spoon type D rad cap since it stated that's the one that would fit my stock radiator. The thing is, it doesn't fit. The type D has the square tabs and my stock cap has the round tabs like the Spoon Type F. Below is a pic of what my radiator looks like but i was going through some pics and it seemed that other stock looking rads where different by being smoother on top. If my stock cap has the round tabs does that mean thats the kind I need or does that not matter?? Pretty much do I need to have the Spoon Type D or Type F?

 

idk man..
i think all honda radiator caps are the same

 

not if you're buying an aftermarket one.

like if you look at the spoon rad caps. There's 2 different types...Type D and Type F.

Like i said, I got type D because it said it was for my car but it's too small. I've been talkin to the guy at jdmland but he hasn't been that helpful..he keeps telling me that he assures me that I have Type D...well, I already know that. I just want to know why it doesn't fit..Do I need to get the Type F which has the round tabs like mine and in the pic??

The description for Type F is for the EF civic models or aftermaket radiators.

 

idk, but my 5 dollar advance auto one works pretty good. whats the difference between them and a spoon one? not to be an ***..

 

Well I don't know about the advanced auto one but the spoon and other name brand ones lower the boiler point of the coolant.

 

oohh, ok. i was just wondering. i've also wondered about the spoon and mugen thermostats. ever try one of those? i mean, 80 couple bucks seems like alot to me for a thermostat. sorry to thread jack man. i was just wondering what the benefits are from using those name brands like that.

 

you're not thread jacking man. Maybe we both can get some info if people would reply. I posted this question in another thread and got like 80 views and no replies. I know someone knows the answer.

 

you mean raise, and i even question if they work. supposedly these caps close tighter creating more pressure inside the radiator, raising the boiling point of the fluid. sounds like a bunch of bs--if you want to raise the boiling point slightly, use less water and more antifreeze like a 60/40 instead of a 50/50 mix. or buy a $40 (!!) radiator cap.

 

yeah, thats what i meant. But thats not y i got it. And i still don't have an answer.

 

 

Return the the Type D that doesn't fit and buy the Type F one that has the round tabs like yours????

 

There are two sizes of caps.

Type A for (rounded tabs) fits early models:
88-91 Civic/CRX,
90-93 Integra,
92-01 Prelude,
91-05 NSX,
some aftermarket radiators still use this size.

And Type B (square tabs) for everything else.

Not sure how the spoon letters correlate.

 

Don't even bother with that aftermarket ****. Use a new OEM Honda cap and call it a day.

 

Some 7th gen Accords had the rounded rad cap. My dad's 05 which he's owned since new came with the rounded cap which surprised me.

 

Toss it in the trash! Like Patrick said stick with a OEM cap, putting those caps and lower fan switches etc. throws off your tune~ The stock ECU opens the thermostat at a certain temp, if you lower it you run the possibility of not getting the engine at operating temp. I had this issue on the dyno and the tuner could not get the temp at 180 with me using those lower temp stuff, i tossed a OEM fan switch, cap and thermo and it reaches OP temp just fine.

You want the engine to be near 180* at op temp.

 

Look at race cars running 20+ lbs in the cooling system and see what there temps are, higher pressure=higher boiling point. Could also mean higher chance of blown head gaskets if not done correctly. Just my two cents