When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello all C3'ers,
Just had a new radiator installed and drove it home from the shop and no overheating or leaks on my garage floor and I infrared checked the temps at the radiator both hoses/ and T-stat housing and all were normal..
However, about an hour ago I was going for a ride and since I always leave the hood open after a previous drive I noticed that the top hose was collapsed??? I know that is an original maybe not OE GM hose so what am I looking at?? Just replace the upper hose??
JJ78
Stay tuned and don't touch that dial
Here we go for part 2............... Went to pick up my upper hose and it was damaged so the new one will be in Monday am!!
However, as per the recommendation of one of the responders I bought and installed a new rad cap #16!!
Started the Vette and all was good till it got to operating temp and before my eyes the hose collapsed and then I shut it off??
Not sure what to do now??? I will put the new hose in Monday and maybe the that will fix the problem..
Again any and all help is greatly appreciated...
FWIW all infrared readings were in the mid to high 80's at the Tstat housing and top of the water pump housing!!
Last edited by JavaJolt78; Jan 15, 2022 at 03:35 PM.
Wow, the lower hose is prone to being sucked closed under running conditions. That's why you need the spring in there.
Your upper hose being sucked shut during cool down is one I haven't seen. I would definitely replace that hose and check or replace the lower hose as well making certain the spring is in the lower hose.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
As your coolant cools, its volume reduces thereby collapsing your upper hose. Do you have an expansion tank? A properly functioning rad cap should vent coolant by passing hot coolant to a reservoir tank and pulling coolant from the tank on cooldown which would prevent the upper hose from collapsing.
resdoggie,
I have a functioning expansion tank with a new hose when the radiator was installed.. And the cap that came with the tank (from Mid America) has the correct cap with the red pressure relief tab.
Will be going to Advance Auto tomorrow to get a new upper hose!!
You would think that the shop would have replaced them as part of new rad install package.
However, there are no leaks and the running temps are good!!.......Go figure and tx for the reply along with 4-Vettes!!!
JJ78
resdoggie,
I have a functioning expansion tank with a new hose when the radiator was installed.. And the cap that came with the tank (from Mid America) has the correct cap with the red pressure relief tab.
uh, sounds like the wrong cap and explains your issue.
No, I've had those caps with the pressure relief lever. It's a bit of a gimmick, but doesn't make it wrong.
The system should be able to pull coolant back out of the bottle as it cools down however.
If it is pulling coolant back out of the bottle as the engine cools down. All is normal. but if it's not......
Perhaps a bad cap.
Still, wouldn't like to see my upper rad hose sucking shut.
The vacuum valve isn't opening in the rad cap. Otherwise the system would suck coolant from the expansion tank, instead of sucking your radiator hose shut.
The cap may be correct, but still faulty. In 2022, new doesn't always mean "good".
I don’t think a new hose is going to fix your issue. How about a couple pictures of your hoses and routing. May simply be how the expansion tank is set up.
By "red pressure release tab", do you mean the lever, like the Stant cap uses? I use them in both of my cars. Perhaps you just got a faulty one. But, if you pull the lever, it will release the pressure seal. One way or another, that will equalize pressure in your system. The hose may pop back, and fluid may flow from the expansion valve back into your system.
There are two types of the Stant caps, though. Does yours have the vacuum release?
💯%,,,It happened to me one year after a new aluminum rad, the cap that came with new rad failed causing the upper hose to collapse. I replaced the cap, problem solved. You may end up going through several "NEW" caps to get a good one,, as quality sux these days..
" ITS THE CAP!!!"
Reply to all responders
Tx for all the info..
I think I got it going the right way..
Upper hose was collapsed and expanded when I pulled the red relief tab
Just for my own sanity I removed the hose from the radiator to the coolant reservoir and low and behold the hose was clogged with what appears to be some left over fix leak that I used sparingly with my old radiator..
I cleaned the hot and turkey baster and removed all of the old antifreeze..
Now I would like to know where and how should I add more antifreeze???
Is it added into the coolant res or the radiator when the engine is hot or cold????
JJ78
With a cold system, fill the radiator and cap it. (Normally a cold radiator's fluid level is 2" to 3" below the fill neck.) Run the engine to fully warm which will heat-expand the coolant so that it uses the reservoir for extra capacity. You may experience overflow at the reservoir so do this outside where you can hose off antifreeze so pets don't lap it up. Shut it down, let it cool completely, and inspect the level in the reservoir – top up to the indicated line if needed.
Not sure how versed you are with pressurized cooling systems: Do not remove a radiator cap when an engine is hot unless you know exactly how to go about it. The system is under pressure and will forcefully spray scalding fluid a good 6 to 8 feet around.
Last edited by barkingrats; Jan 16, 2022 at 11:43 AM.
Upper coolant hose ?
💯%,,,It happened to me one year after a new aluminum rad, the cap that came with new rad failed causing the upper hose to collapse. I replaced the cap, problem solved. You may end up going through several "NEW" caps to get a good one,, as quality sux these days..
