Newbie question on cooling
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Newbie question on cooling
I finally bought my first vette after nearly forty-five years of desire. It's a maroon 81 in pretty decent shape. I am dripping some fluid from the right front under the engine and rather than a puddle it forms a trail about a foot long. Not a lot of fluid but something I'll need to find soon. However, my question is with cooling the engine. Last night before going for a ride I checked coolant, oil, brake, and transmission fluid levels and everything was right on. When I returned about an hour later the engine was quite warm but the coolant was still at the "cold" level in the overflow. I thought I should see the level move alittle toward the "hot" marking. It's been along time since I've spend much time under the hood. Can anyone tell me if this behavior is normal. Thanks for any and all comments.
Bow
Bow
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by bow
I finally bought my first vette after nearly forty-five years of desire. It's a maroon 81 in pretty decent shape. I am dripping some fluid from the right front under the engine and rather than a puddle it forms a trail about a foot long. Not a lot of fluid but something I'll need to find soon. However, my question is with cooling the engine. Last night before going for a ride I checked coolant, oil, brake, and transmission fluid levels and everything was right on. When I returned about an hour later the engine was quite warm but the coolant was still at the "cold" level in the overflow. I thought I should see the level move alittle toward the "hot" marking. It's been along time since I've spend much time under the hood. Can anyone tell me if this behavior is normal. Thanks for any and all comments.
Bow
Bow
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Qc.
You might have a higher-temp/higher pressure rated (or non-working) radiator cap on the car. The cap is supposed to let very hot coolant out into the expansion/overflow tank when it heats up, then let it back in when it cools. I wouldn't worry about a thing if I was you, so long as your engine doesn't run hot (does the temp guage work? Temps stay under 210-220?) Oh yeah, fix that leak, that'd bother me more than the tank thing.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
the coolant in the tank doesnt just flow in it takes heating and then cooling to move it.When cold fill your rad up then fill tank to cold level and then watch it.Make sure you have the correct closed system cap
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by bow
The fluid felt like oil but was almost clear. At first I thought it was oil but it should have been alittle darker. The path it leaves on the garage floor is quite confusing.
Bow
Bow
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
ahhh, perhaps a bit of a stupid comment but if the fluid is on the right front side, and is clear.....did you have the AC running? Condensation dripping down is normal. The "trail" of fluid could be from the water just running after it drips down or simply from you driving into the garage or driveway.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by BarryK
ahhh, perhaps a bit of a stupid comment but if the fluid is on the right front side, and is clear.....did you have the AC running? Condensation dripping down is normal. The "trail" of fluid could be from the water just running after it drips down or simply from you driving into the garage or driveway.
Heck no thats not stupid-could be that simple! (oh and I never got to use that stupid smilie so I took the opportunity
)
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Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I do have AC but it was not running. We've had some nice evenings lately and for that reason the t-tops have been stored all week. I'm beginning to suspect the fluid is from the power steering unit. It's a almost clear, oily fluid and when I back in the garage I cut the wheels hard to put the car tight to the wall and out of harms way. Could it be during that hard cut with the wheels when I back up that final foot or so that the pressure on a seal is greater and it leaks during that time leaving a trail? I'll experiment with some cardboard till I can schedule time to have the leak inspected. BTW, when I bought the car I did add some power steering fluid because it was just at the add line. As far as the temp gauge. It does work and we're not overheating. I was just curious if you should normally see a higher level in the overflow when the car is warm (hot).
Thanks, Bow
Thanks, Bow