radiator over flowing

[yellowbeard]

Hi guys, Got my 31 running. How much water will the rad. hold. I fill it to the top and it will overflow once it gets to running temp. Running the stock rad. with a 4.3 V6. Got an overflow bottle mounted hope this helps.

[themoose]

I keep my coolant level about an inch over the top of the core which is about 3 inches from the top of the tank. The water needs room for expansion and will normally push out  the increased excess volume as expansion occurs from the increase in temperature. If your not running hot I think you best bet is to see where the level is after it overflows and keep it there. Keep in mind that you may push out more water if the temperature goes higher that the highest point you have attained so far. Another words if you have always run at 190 and the water is staying at a certain level it might push out some more if the temperature goes to 210 but as long as the engine doesn't overheat your still OK keeping you system at that new level. Newer vehicles have expansion tanks and are designed to draw the water back into the system but overflow tanks are only designed to capture the overflow.

Moose

[yellowbeard]

thanks for the info. Moose

[vette59jdwl]

I agree with moose  remember if you have been out driving and putting the whole system under pressure when you come home and shut the vehicle off the water temp will go up before it goes down, only because the water is not circulating seeing the water pump is not moving.Please keep us posted to any other changes that are happening  wayner