Stupid Question- Radiator Full?

Chaplin · #1 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:03 AM

This weekend I filled all the fluids in my car (FE with an expansion tank), but I can't tell if the coolant level is full. I put in 2 gallons of distilled water and 2 gallons of antifreeze, but when I look in the expansion tank, it looks like there is just about 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch of coolant covering the bottom of the expansion tank. How high should the coolant be in the expansions tank? (I didn't see any obvious water level markings on the tank).

Thanks for your help.

6T5 Cbra · #2 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:17 AM

The coolant level should be up to the 'baffle' in the FE expansion tank. Keep adding until it stays there.

Gene

bmalone · #3 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:22 AM

I fill the expansion tank nearly to the top.

If you put too much in, it will run out the overflow vent and I have done that once. Although it was not a big deal, as the excess water drained off and then the system was full.

I think you will find that if you are starting fresh (block also) and have a typical size radiator, you will use 5 gallons of fluid.

chopper · #4 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:23 AM

Most of the tanks I've seen have an horizontal baffle about halfway up from the bottom of the tank. The proper fluid level is to fill the system until the level is even with the baffle, leaving a small empty space in the top of the tank to account for the expansion of the fluid as it heats up.

vettestr · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:33 AM

Chaplin,
I can tell you what has worked for me. I filled the expansion tank until about 1 inch from top with correct ratio of coolant. I put the overflow hose from that tank into a temporary ( POP ? ) can to catch any overflow from that tank. I did not want to clean if it did overflow from the expansion of MAX engine heat. I drove car until it reached full temp. and then parked it.
Checked the pop can after all cooled down the next day. I was close because it did puke a little into the temporary can placed on the expansion tank overflow hose. Final self obtained level in expansion was say about 1 1/4 full from top of tank. I have removed the pop can from hose after a few runs and no further mess and all is well. Hope all works as well for you.

vettestr · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 08:44 AM

Chaplin,
I can tell you what has worked for me. I filled the expansion tank until about 1 inch from top with correct ratio of coolant. I put the overflow hose from that tank into a temporary ( POP ? ) can to catch any overflow from that tank. I did not want to clean if it did overflow from the expansion of MAX engine heat. I drove car until it reached full temp. and then parked it.
Checked the pop can after all cooled down the next day. I was close because it did puke a little into the temporary can placed on the expansion tank overflow hose. Final self obtained level in expansion was say about 1 1/4 full from top of tank. I have removed the pop can from hose after a few runs and no further mess and all is well. Hope all works as well for you.

PatBuckley · #7 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 09:35 AM

I fill it to the very top and use a coolant recovery bottle so that when the coolant cools down it sucks back into the expansion tank - just like the radiator caps are meant to do.

GEORGE ANDERSON · #8 (**permalink**) 07-21-2003, 10:25 PM

to the hole in the baffle...
George

Clois Harlan · #9 (**permalink**) 07-22-2003, 04:11 PM

George,

That is the fewest words I have ever heard you say on any subject. But, thats' the way I do mine and it seems to work fine.

Clois

GEORGE ANDERSON · #10 (**permalink**) 07-22-2003, 08:56 PM

Clois...yes it was an easy question with 10 answers...need some room for expansion...your option.
George
P.S. Clois will you be coming up to Hastings 8/15-8/17 for the 2003 Motorsport Mile SCCA event?

Clois Harlan · #11 (**permalink**) 07-23-2003, 07:08 AM

Sorry George,

I wish we could make it but I can't do it this year. I think David Nimitz and Lew Payne are going to make it though. Have you sent anything to Keith Williams or Jay Nordstrom in Dallas?

Thanks for the invitation.

Clois

GEORGE ANDERSON · #12 (**permalink**) 07-23-2003, 11:27 PM

Clois...can you forward the emails for Keith and Jay...thanks

Chaplin · #13 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 07:41 AM

Thanks guys for the responses. I think things are where they should be now.

PatBuckley · #14 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 09:10 AM

The radiator cap allows room for expansion....the object being that you do not want air in the cooling system - that is why those nifty pressure type radiator caps were developed!

It is amazing how many people are clueless about how a simple radiator cap works!

Pat

Chaplin · #15 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 09:24 AM

Pat-
The cap, by itself, can't possibly leave enough room expansion, can it?

By the way, where did you mount your coolant recovery bottle?

PatBuckley · #16 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 03:02 PM

You will notice a tube running from the cap area.....that is to conduct the coolant to the expansion tank when system pressure overcomes the relief on the cap---it then siphons back into the puke tank when the pressure inside the puke tank returns to normal.

You will notice two "flaps" on most radiator caps - the big one is to expel coolant and the little one in the center is so that coolant can get sucked back into the puke tank - which leaves it filled to the top at all times.

It is better to have 100% coolant in a system than 99% coolant....air can get very hot!

On my ERA I mounted the expansion tank on the left side of the engine bay - I got a tall thin one.

Sorry this is so wordy!

vettestr · #17 (**permalink**) 07-24-2003, 05:19 PM

If the expantion tank is mounted at the highest point of system and plumbed correctly the recovery tank is redundant. Air trapped in system other than top of expansion tank or air circulated with coolant is a design or installation fault that needs repair. Typical recovery tanks are butt ugly and do take extra space but if you have room and is good looking WHY NOT.

chopper · #18 (**permalink**) 07-25-2003, 06:02 PM

Mr. Buckley:

Just some info here. You would be correct if you were describing a current (modern) cooling system. However, the mid-60s cars with the FE engines did not use a closed recovery system. The tube which you reference, exiting the side of the filler neck on the expansion tank, was connected to a rubber hose which just hung down below the engine. Overflow was blown out past the radiator cap and lost. Many folks have done as you describe and attached an overflow tank to their systems, essentially turning the tank into a closed coolant recovery system. I did this by mounting a small marine Lexan hydraulic reservoir up under the left side fender and connected it to the expansion tank, but that's not how the original systems were designed.

A Snake · #19 (**permalink**) 07-25-2003, 06:29 PM

If you have the Galaxie expansion tank, mounted to the front of the intake, you can and should add a "purge" line from the tank to the top of the radiator. This gets out air trapped above the hose outlet for your top hose.

Look at the tank and you'll find a "flattened" corner just under the center seam. That's where to install an "AN fitting". Don't know what radiator is in your car, but if it is a cross flow, the purge line will help.

Follow George's instructions on filling. Catch cans are fine, but usually unnecessary if the system is filled properly. A "track use only" sort of thing.

Al



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