Coolant Expansion Tank
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
Coolant Expansion Tank
Hi guys...dumb question #148
If you pull the cap on the radiator coolant expansion tank, is there a hose that connects to the inlet? I had to replace my cap (it cracked) and in the process found that the inlet tube on the inside which points down was broken off. (Which is probably why the tank is full and the radiator way down.)
I checked the shop manual as well as the assembly manual and of course they were wildly helpful
. As I read through the shop manual it says that for cars with the expansion tank the coolant level should be filled half way with the engine cold. The reason for my question is that while I realize that the coolant will expand and fill the tank, the downward inlet tube on the cap will be far from the mid point in the tank. Since it's not a sealed system, I wondered if there was supposed to be a rubber hose from the cap to the lower end of the tank.
Thanks
Jim
If you pull the cap on the radiator coolant expansion tank, is there a hose that connects to the inlet? I had to replace my cap (it cracked) and in the process found that the inlet tube on the inside which points down was broken off. (Which is probably why the tank is full and the radiator way down.)
I checked the shop manual as well as the assembly manual and of course they were wildly helpful
. As I read through the shop manual it says that for cars with the expansion tank the coolant level should be filled half way with the engine cold. The reason for my question is that while I realize that the coolant will expand and fill the tank, the downward inlet tube on the cap will be far from the mid point in the tank. Since it's not a sealed system, I wondered if there was supposed to be a rubber hose from the cap to the lower end of the tank.Thanks
Jim
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 1
Thanks and sorry guys...1973 with the L82 engine.
I'll try to get my profile updated soon. Between work, vacation, getting one kid off to college and moving the other one who's graduating it's been CRAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZY!
I'll try to get my profile updated soon. Between work, vacation, getting one kid off to college and moving the other one who's graduating it's been CRAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZY!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Ah- the proper name is a coolant recovery tank. Expansion tanks were on '72 and prior.
There is supposed to be a long rubber tube attached to the inside of the cap which reaches the bottom of the tank. The hose has probably fallen off and is sitting on the bottom.
The correct fill level for the tank is NOT halfway when cold- that's for expansion tanks. There are marks molded onto the side of the tank that indicate correct cold and hot levels.
There is supposed to be a long rubber tube attached to the inside of the cap which reaches the bottom of the tank. The hose has probably fallen off and is sitting on the bottom.
The correct fill level for the tank is NOT halfway when cold- that's for expansion tanks. There are marks molded onto the side of the tank that indicate correct cold and hot levels.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 19
From: Canboro Ontario
I think in those years, there was also a screen bell type attachment, at the bottom of the tube.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Sarge,
Learned somthing!!!
I knew of the screened bell at the end of the feed hose in my washer bottle, but didn't know it appeared elsewhere.
Richard Fortier, (Mr. Paragon), reproduces the screen for those looking for the final NCRS point.
Regards,
Alan
Learned somthing!!!
I knew of the screened bell at the end of the feed hose in my washer bottle, but didn't know it appeared elsewhere.
Richard Fortier, (Mr. Paragon), reproduces the screen for those looking for the final NCRS point.
Regards,
Alan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The reason for the nit-picking is some pre-'73 Corvettes had a pressurized external expansion tank with an integral radiator cap. This was used in conjunction with a stacked plate aluminum Harrison radiator.
Bubba has been at many of these cars overs the years and added all sorts of weird and wonderful 'upgrades'.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
And the year also needs to be known because 73-77E had an expansion tank where the hose from the radiator attached to the cap. The Late 77-82 tanks have a solid cap and the radiator overflow hose attaches directly to the tank.
I've never seen a filter on the hose in the expansion tank, only on washer tank pick up hoses. With the crap and garbage that ends up in radiator fluid, a filter would always be clogged up, preventing coolant from returning to the radiator.
