|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
I purchased a Coolant Recovery Bottle on Ebay which is the perfect size to sit next to the rad without looking out of place.It works fine as far as coolant out and it draws coolant back in as it cools but not as much as it should.Seems to me that when I added a bottle years ago the kit came with an extra seal to be used on the existing Rad Cap.I don't even see listings on Ebay for Caps for vehicles with coolant recovery containers.Thats probably what I need to change or ad a seal to the existing Rad Cap.Anyone else added a overflow bottle and what did you do with the existing Rad Cap if anything?
|
|
By paul2748 - 12 Years Ago
|
I have coolant recovery tanks (the round metal ones which really look good) on two cars and neither came with a special cap or a seal. Both work very well.
What do you mean it does not draw back as much as it should? There are residual amounts in both of my set ups and the water level always seems the same to me when I check it. Is the residual amount in yours always the same? If so, it must be drawing back ok. Is it because the level in the radiator is down some? Is the level in the radiator always at the same place? Radiators should not be filled up to the top.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Thanks Paul.Maybe its just finding the level thats correct for the radiator.Its does fill and than empty as the system cools.
|
|
By PWH42 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Mark........You must use a cap that has a double seal,as is used on later models.Any parts store will have the one you need.I got mine from NAPA.You should always keep the radiator full to the top to keep air out of the system.That's the reason for the in and out action of the overflow bottle.No air in the system equals no rust.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
What year did you buy one for? 13lb?
|
|
By PWH42 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
I use a 7 pound cap,Mark.
|
|
By Ted - 12 Years Ago
|
|
The radiator cap for a coolant recovery system is specific to that system in that the cap has a double seal built into it. Most auto manufacturers have used these systems for the last forty years making replacement caps readily available at the parts stores. The cap for the recovery jug or bottle is also specific in that the radiator side of the cap has a tube going to the bottom of the container. It’s this tube that allows coolant to be ‘sucked’ back up into the radiator as the radiator itself cools. I use the 7 lb. cap with the coolant recovery system in my '55 Ford Customline.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Thanks Ted! What application would you use to buy a 7lb cap with the double seal?As usual the question will be "Whats it fit ?" when you go to the parts store to buy one.Most manufacturers went to 13lb caps about the same time they started with the coolant recovery containers which is why I am wondering what application would use a suitable 7lb cap?I know some of the ad-on recovery kits supplied an extra seal to use with the existing cap.
|
|
By The Master Cylinder - 12 Years Ago
|
Paul and Ted, Good info on the cap. I have a coolant recovery system with 7 lb. cap but not sure if it's double seal type. Don't remember seeing mention of type of cap in the 'instructions'. Can I tell by looking at the cap?
Mark, I wouldn't recommend using a 13 lb. cap on our old radiators (age and/or design).
|
|
By charliemccraney - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Do you really need that bottle? I don't know about the cars, but on the trucks, expansion is built into the radiator. I do have a bottle but only because it is required to race. Otherwise, I wouldn't have it. Every time I've checked, the coolant level in it hasn't changed.
|
|
By paul2748 - 12 Years Ago
|
What is the problem if your system is doing this?
oldcarmark (6/28/2013)
Thanks Paul.Maybe its just finding the level that's correct for the radiator.Its does fill and than empty as the system cools.
I read all the comments prior to this and maybe we are discussing different systems. The stock overflow out of the radiator connects to the overflow tank. Mine is not a closed system. it still has an overflow in the recovery tank via a tube inside the tank that extends almost all the way up to the top so it won't overflow until the tank is almost full. I don't lose any water (had a very bad time with water loss in one of the cars that the tank remedied) so in my system filling the radiator all the way up is not correct. I use a regular cap as noted previously.
Unless the system is completely closed, filling the radiator all the way up is not correct in my experience.
The stainless cylindrical tanks are the best ways to go in my opinion. They look good,work good and are easy to mount. I see these Thunderbird owners with these plastic tanks and they are ugly on an otherwise nice car. Oddly enough, my TBird does not have a coolant loss problem so I never installed one in it.
|
|
By Ted - 12 Years Ago
|
|
That coolant recovery tank does allow the cooling system itself to be completely devoid of air which is a plus on some of the newer antifreeze/coolants solutions that are being used. Some of those gel up with the inclusion of air within the system. The other advantage of a recovery tank is adding another quart of coolant to the overall system which may be just enough to keep from tipping the balance on what might be otherwise a marginal cooling system. . And with the recovery tank in place, there is no ‘spitting’ of coolant from the system to the ground until that perfect balance or amount of expansion air finds itself on a non-tank system. On non-recovery tank systems, it’s not unusual for those vehicles to spit a small amount of fluid out after refilling the radiators to the high side until the system finds its happy balance between coolant and radiator head space.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Thanks Ted.You mentioned you are using a 7lb cap meant for a coolant recovery system.What is the actual application for that cap?Any 7lb cap for older vehicles would not work with the system because they don't have a thicker or double seal.What are you using?
|
|
By GREENBIRD56 - 12 Years Ago
|
This arrangement isn't for everyone but it is pretty much hiding in plain sight..... radiator cap is 13 psi with fresh rebuilt radiator.
At lower right is a black, one quart "JAZ" overflow bottle plumbed with the inlet at the bottom and the spit tube out the top - has no fill feature at all. I fill the radiator - topped up cold - and fully drain the bottle. The bottles have a pair of 1/4-20 tapped inserts with which to arrange a bracket - mine just has a longitudinal tab to the radiator shroud bolts. I was going to remove the upper fitting and blacken it - but never got around to it.
The first few times I ran it this way I stuck the top "spit hose" in another (Tecate) can to be sure I didn't kill the neighbors cat - but once it was established to be stable I quit doing that.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
I have a 13lb on mine now but suggestions made that I should go with a 7lb cap.Trying to find an application that uses 7lb with overflow system.Anyone have an answer?
|
|
By GREENBIRD56 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Mark - Use the web and search "Stant 7 psi radiator cap" - it'll give you some numbers to start out with at the parts store.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
I can find a Stant 7lb Cap no problem BUT a lot of them are for vehicles that never used the sealed recovery system like 55-56 Ford and Thunderbirds.I know that a lot of the "add-on" systems provided a seal to use with your existing cap.So my question still is-If some of you are using a 7lb cap with the overflow bottle what is the # on the cap or what is the application for that cap.A standard 7lb cap does not will allow the full recovery of the fluid in the bottle as it cools.I have a 13lb cap with the built-in double seal and it works as it should.
|
|
By Talkwrench - 12 Years Ago
|
Steve I would have gone with the Tecate can ... drink and replace regularly ! the right way round of course.. dont drink the coolant.. though Tecate aint much better 
I have seen warnings on radiators not to drink the fluid.. 
|
|
By Bob's 55 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
oldcarmark (7/3/2013)
So my question still is-If some of you are using a 7lb cap with the overflow bottle what is the # on the cap or what is the application for that cap.
I searched for the correct 7 lb. cap and I'd could use an answer to Mark's question also... Thanks
|
|
By PWH42 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
I got my 7 pound double seal cap at NAPA.I'll look tomorrow and get the number for you and post it.
|
|
By PWH42 - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Mark,the Stant number for a double seal 7# cap is 228.
|
|
By oldcarmark - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Thank you Paul!I just did a quick search on Ebay.They are actually listed as a 10228 Stant Rad Cap.Pretty cheap too!
|
|
By Ted - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Mark. The 7 lb. coolant recovery radiator cap on my‘55 Customline is made by MotorRad. I originally picked this one up at a radiator repair shop back in the Nineties. It was that radiator shop that clued me in to the upper radiator tank seam issue I was having with the higher pressure caps. The lower rated cap they sold me fixed that problem. The Stant cap Paul mentions should be the same.
|
|
By jrw429 - 12 Years Ago
|
Seems like this is what is being discussed. Correct?
http://ww2.stant.com/modules/partLocator/view_diagram.cfm?id=10228
|
|
By The Master Cylinder - 12 Years Ago
|
|
Wow, never realized there are so many radiator cap brands.
|
|
By Ted - 12 Years Ago
|
The pictured cap in the link looks to be an O.E. (original equipment) which is not suitable for a coolant recovery tank.
The coolant recovery radiator caps have double rubber seals to prevent any loss of coolant at the cap itself when the pressure point is reached. The O.E.caps for non-coolant recovery systems do not have that second seal and as a result do not work well with a coolant recovery tank. Here are pics of the 7 lb. coolant recoverycap on my ’55 but the secondary rubber seal for the top of the radiator flange in the picture blends in with the lower seal making it hard to see. But it’s there.  
|