radiator - dumb question

[STEVE-O]

Hello,
I took a quick look under the hood so I may be missing something obvious but where is the radiator fill cap? I didnt really see any cap from the engine side or from the front. Can someone maybe post a pic or description as to how to get to it?
Sorry for the dumb question.
Thanks

[vanoochka]

It's either inline like this - see the cap at the bottom-right of the pic...



Or it's a fill tank like this.

[madmaxx]

I guess I have a dumb question also, is the puke tank drain valve supposed to be open or closed and what is it purpose?

Thanks

[STEVE-O]

Originally Posted by vanoochka

It's either inline like this - see the cap at the bottom-right of the pic...



Or it's a fill tank like this.

Ok.. thanks! I have the fill tank. Guess I was expecting an actual cap right on the radiator as in a production car with the fill tank being just for overflow.
Is there a radiator drain valve? Do you use a mix of water/antifreeze in the radiator, plain water or water with water cooling additive i.e 'water wetter' ?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by STEVE-O

Is there a radiator drain valve? Do you use a mix of water/antifreeze in the radiator, plain water or water with water cooling additive i.e 'water wetter' ?

If you have a drain valve it will be at the bottom corner of your radiator. You should use a 50/50 mix of water and AF and a lot of also use Water Wetter. Do a quick search on "burping" your system as air bubbles can be a problem.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by STEVE-O

Do you use a mix of water/antifreeze in the radiator, plain water or water with water cooling additive i.e 'water wetter' ?

Anti-freeze and DISTILLED water. I use a 50/50 mix. Do NOT use plain tap water.

[patrickt]

I use the pre-mixed 50/50 Anti-Freeze. I would be hesitant to use tap water in my Cobra. In fact, we don't even like to drink it.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I use the pre-mixed 50/50 Anti-Freeze.

Pre-mix is a huge rip off. You are paying high bucks for water. Get a good 100% antifreeze and a couple gallons of distilled water at the super-market.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by wtm442

Pre-mix is a huge rip off. You are paying high bucks for water.

I know, but I justify it by convincing myself that I'm saving the gas by avoiding a trip to the supermarket.

[PANAVIA]

50-50 and 1 bottle of water wetter and its a done deal.

anyone know what is in water wetter >>?

i have used that stuff for years but never figured it out, but it DOES make a difference!

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

anyone know what is in water wetter >>?

DiIsopropyl Alcohol Ether ........ 1-40% ..... CAS #25265-71-8
Tri Isopropyl Alcohol DiEther ... 1-40% ...... CAS #24800-44-0
Sodium Molybdate ................ 2-10% ...... CAS #10102-40-6
Tolyltriazole ........................ 1-3% ........ CAS #29385-43-1
PolySiloxane Polymer


OK? I hope you are a chemist.

Copied info from http://www.redlineoil.com/msds/17.pdf

[madmaxx]

Water wetter reduces the water ability to adhere (surfacet tension) to an object. Therefore the boundry layer of the water next to the block and other components is "thinner". Next time you are going down the freeway put your hand on the roof and you will notice there is no air movement. The air is stationary.

[PANAVIA]

I went geeking out and found this;

http://sci.tech-archive.net/Archive/...4-07/0547.html

From the post;

Well, this should be a doozy of a first post. I know from research
that the following combination of chemicals help reduce the surface
tension of various liquids, including water and engine coolant, to
help them transfer heat out of a radiator more effectively.

Di-Isopropyl alcohol ether
Tri-Isopropyl alcohol di-ether
Sodium molybdate
Tolytriazole
Poly Siloxane Polymer

<snip>

Answer;

By reducing surface tension you are allowing the fluid to wet the surfaces
of the pipe better, thus coming in more intimate contact with the walls.
The better the contact, the better the heat transfer. It also would allow
bubbles to move away from the wall more quickly also, thus keeping a fresh
liquid there.

<snip>