upper rad hose keeps collapsing
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
I would suspect the radiator cap. As the coolant cools it shrinks, the radiator cap has a valve in it that allows coolant from the coolant recovery tank to get sucked back into the radiator as it cools. Are the coolant recovery tank and hoses intact?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
As mentioned the rad cap is a good start. You may also have air in the system. Park the car on an incline so that the radiator fill is higher than the engine. With the engine cold remove the rad cap and start the car. Look into the opening and let the coolant flow for a bit. Put the cap back on and let the car warm up. Make sure you have sufficient coolant in the return reservour so it can suck coolant back into the radiator as it cools and not air.
I think a 16 lb rad cap would be as high as you should go.
I think a 16 lb rad cap would be as high as you should go.
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
