my car does not seem to be drawing coolant from
- Thread starter KST
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JHZR2
Staff member
Is the level correct up to the filler neck in the radiator? No excess air inside?
If so, I wouldnt worry about it. The surge tank may not need to do much, not a bad thing.
I dont know that I can really notice a big difference in level in my cars...
If so, I wouldnt worry about it. The surge tank may not need to do much, not a bad thing.
I dont know that I can really notice a big difference in level in my cars...
you'r ok, don't worry about it
Remember you have to have an adequate vacuum to suck water from the usually-lower overflow tank up into the top of the radiator. So if you open the cap you should hear a little whoosh but not expect to see coolant right up to the lip of the filler neck. And if you DO fill coolant this far, it's going into the overflow and probably hanging out there until a radical temp swing.
Since you already changed the radiator cap, did you check the reservoir tube for blockage?
Are you sure there is no change from dead cold to hot?
[In the reservoir]
This wold be normal.
From an inch to several inches difference -something like that.
[In the reservoir]
This wold be normal.
From an inch to several inches difference -something like that.
My Honda Civic is doing the exact same thing.
I changed the cap, cleaned out the overflow tank, and made sure the line was free. But it'll still keep filling the tank, until it starts to overflow. When I remove the cap, I can tell theres negative pressure on it.
I keep an eye on it, and every few weeks I'll use a turkey baster to put the coolant back in the radiator. It just started doing this, so I'm not sure what else there is to do.
I changed the cap, cleaned out the overflow tank, and made sure the line was free. But it'll still keep filling the tank, until it starts to overflow. When I remove the cap, I can tell theres negative pressure on it.
I keep an eye on it, and every few weeks I'll use a turkey baster to put the coolant back in the radiator. It just started doing this, so I'm not sure what else there is to do.
Mark - On your civic, that sounds like it could be a bad head gasket. If you fill the rad fully and let the engine run with the cap off, does it bubble?
Here is a quick check. With the radiator full to the top, with the cap off,run the engine at idle. Let it come up to operating temp,then check to see if any bubbbles are visible in the coolant. If so, you have a head gasket leak. FWIW--Oldtommy
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Mark - On your civic, that sounds like it could be a bad head gasket. If you fill the rad fully and let the engine run with the cap off, does it bubble?
I tried that, no bubbles.
I actually have another post about it. Used a pressure checker, and there was no drop in pressure; hot, cold, running, etc.
Never runs hot, or looses heat. I gave up and just drive it,
Mark - On your civic, that sounds like it could be a bad head gasket. If you fill the rad fully and let the engine run with the cap off, does it bubble?
I tried that, no bubbles.
I actually have another post about it. Used a pressure checker, and there was no drop in pressure; hot, cold, running, etc.
Never runs hot, or looses heat. I gave up and just drive it,
Simple leak somewhere else in the circuit can prevent you from drawing in from the overflow/recovery bottle.
Can't pull in antifreeze if the system is pulling in air through the water pump, heater core, or leaky hose.....
So, time to look for tiny leaks. My recommendation is a bottle of stop leak or coolant sealer/conditioner.
And, you need pressure so make sure your vehicle is coming up to temp. If you have a non-OE or thermostat older than 5 years, replace it.
Can't pull in antifreeze if the system is pulling in air through the water pump, heater core, or leaky hose.....
So, time to look for tiny leaks. My recommendation is a bottle of stop leak or coolant sealer/conditioner.
And, you need pressure so make sure your vehicle is coming up to temp. If you have a non-OE or thermostat older than 5 years, replace it.
If you're near an Autozone, see if they'll lend you a cooling system pressure tester so you can test if there's a leak.
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