In a message dated 2/26/03 8:27:45 PM Pacific Standard Time, BillB@bnj.com
writes:
<< Unless you've done something special to your radiator cap that really
doesn't happen. The water doesn't get sucked back in because the TR3
radiator cap is just a single flow cap. When the engine cools a little the
radiator cap seats--there's no way for the coolant to return. You can
modify it to make that happen, as it does with modern cars, but you need a
modified radiator neck to accept the kind of radiator cap that acts as a
light check valve for coolant flowing back into the system.
>>
You are right, Bill. I had about three radiators refitted with the shorter
cap neck to use a standard 7 LB or 15 LB cap from an Advanced Auto Parts
store. These caps have the center check valve which gets pulled down when
the radiator draws a vacuum, allowing the coolant to be drawn back into the
radiator. Sometimes I hear the catch tank snarling, hissing, and clanking
when the engine is shut down. By the time the engine cools, the fluid is
back in the radiator.
I agree that you are better off if you never reach temperatures this high.
These radiators are also re-cored without the crank hole. They still must
not be extremely good. I never had to block off any radiator surface area.
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