Low Coolant
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 267
From: Richmond Texas
Saying that an engine without a coolant recovery system will “find its level and stay there” is incorrect. Each time it heat cycles, a small amount of coolant will be lost via steam.
Two simple solutions:
1. Install a recovery system and forget it.
2. Continue to periodically add coolant while polluting the environment.
Two simple solutions:
1. Install a recovery system and forget it.
2. Continue to periodically add coolant while polluting the environment.
59BlueSilver, my 66 doesn't have the expansion tank either. I noticed that if I top the radiator off, I have to keep adding coolant to keep it full, but If i let it get about 1/2" below the top it stays there and I don't have to add anything. I have never been able to find any leaks and have no idea where the last 1/2 goes.
and to add.... I am no expert but you shouldn't have the need for two pressure caps. If I am guessing right you have a BB style radiator with a Radiator cap on it, The SB had the cap on the coolant tank up by the battery. IF you are trying to use that kind of recovery tank, I don't think it would work without some rigging. again, no expert, but I don't think they had a coolant recovery tank for a BB Corvette. You could always just use a catch can down low with a hose running up to the blow off at the cap. AT least if you did that you could monitor how much coolant is being lost at the cap, and if it's none, then you know the problem is elsewhere.
Last edited by SledgeHammer 2.0; Jun 9, 2019 at 10:23 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Today I pressure tested both cars. The 65 passed but the 59 had a leak on the top radiator hose, fixed that. The cap was also bad so replaced it. BTW, when I tested the caps, it wouldn’t hold pressure for 5 minutes, both slowly leaked down, even the new one. Is that normal?
