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#1
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Use Windshield Washer Tank For Radiator Overflow????
Despite a PY Aluminum radiator; Flow Cooler pump and 160 degree thermostat, every now and then on hot days the radiator overflows. It's getting a little old carrying around a jug of distilled water and was wondering if anyone has ever used the windshield washer tank as an overflow reservoir and if so how that worked out. As an alternative, has anyone ever installed a separate tank in a car that didn't originally have one??
Mine is a '66 LeMans. Any input would be appreciated. trshman |
#2
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I have a small overflow tank mounted next to the radiator fill cap. It works fine and I put it on to be track legal. I have the same radiator, works great. It should stop spitting when it gets to the proper level, mine did.
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Chris D 69 GTO Liberty Blue/dark blue T400, 9" w 3.50s, 3905lbs 461, 850 Holley, T2, KRE 310s, Comp HR288 w 165s, RA manifolds, 11.60@114, 1.58/60 The spare: 467, 850 Holley, T2, Edelbrock Dport 310cfm w RA manifolds, HFT 245/251D .561/.594L, 11.59@ 114, 1.57/ 60' |
#3
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Quote:
That said, the previous owner of my car used the windshield washer fluid reservoir as a radiator catch can. I recently went back to the stock setup. Setting up a catch can of some sort won't allow you to stop carrying coolant/water around (if that's your thing) anyway, since it isn't a sealed system like a modern car that uses an expansion tank which cycles "excess" coolant back into the system. The only advantage of a coolant catch can in an old car is that it doesn't leave coolant on the ground, but it doesn't prevent your radiator fluid level from dropping.
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1966 Pontiac GTO (restoration thread) 1998 BMW 328is (track rat) 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited (daily) View my photos: Caught in the Wild Last edited by ZeGermanHam; 08-08-2018 at 10:38 AM. |
#4
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There's a difference between a catch can that just receives excess coolant, and a (I think it's called) a coolant recovery can that has the tube from the radiator entering in the bottom so that coolant can move back and forth as needed. I have the second kind - I removed my never-used windshield washer tub, and replaced it with this one.
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1965 Pontiac LeMans. M21, 3.73 in a 12 bolt, Kauffman 461. |
#5
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Washer bottles have been used as overflow bottles for decades. They sorta work but do not have good enough flow. I have a small black plastic one, like in the photo, that kind of hides next to my radiator. However, you can "catch" all you want but you will still be adding fluid if you do not run a closed system. To run a closed system you will need a closed system radiator cap.
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#6
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Thank you one and all. One response that hit home was that I'm probably over filling the radiator and not giving it a chance to find it's own operating level.
I've always had a tendency towards "more is better" which is another way of saying I have a tendency to overdo things . I'm going to back off a little and see what the car tells me Thanks again everybody. trshman |
#7
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I thought back in the old days it was common for the factory owners/service manuals to ask for coolant about 1 inch below top of radiator. Primarily before cross flow radiators. This allowed for the expected expansion when hot. And this philosophy even applied for pressure caps. Then along came closed systems with recovery tanks. This change may coincide with the change to cross flow radiators when you wanted all tubes to be full for best cooling and this required the radiator to be full. And you could add coolant into the recovery tank and it would get sucked into the radiator as necessary during cooling and keep the radiator full.
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#8
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Mine came out of a Camry. Fit right into a stamped recess on the radiator core.
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#9
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I’m leaking a small amount of coolant, small trail present after engine shutdown, no catch tank. Takes about 1 pint to ‘fill’ it up, only to puke it out again... However this ‘natural level’ that’s 1” below the rad top is just below the top of the row of the cooling tubes, so the top row is not sitting in coolant when cold. Is that OK? I’m thinking that’s likely to cause corrosion? Appreciate your opinion. Thanks |
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