Safety radiator caps
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Safety radiator caps
My car's been loosing coolant, but not overheating.
Last time I was out to my car there was a puddle by the front bumper, the car's not been overheating so I'm thinking the original radiator cap needs replacing.
The part's guy asked me if I want a regular cap or a safey cap. They have a little lever to relieve the pressure before you open it.
The trouble is I can't get the d@mb cap on!
How are you suppose to push down hard enough on it with the level up? It doesn't seem to want to turn into place with it down.
Last time I was out to my car there was a puddle by the front bumper, the car's not been overheating so I'm thinking the original radiator cap needs replacing.
The part's guy asked me if I want a regular cap or a safey cap. They have a little lever to relieve the pressure before you open it.
The trouble is I can't get the d@mb cap on!
How are you suppose to push down hard enough on it with the level up? It doesn't seem to want to turn into place with it down.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Mine(Stant safty cap with a stock replacement rad) goes right on with no problems. Press/turn it from the edges...then flip the lever down. Ensure it is the correct cap for your application.
Last edited by engle1147; Jul 29, 2009 at 10:43 AM. Reason: pic +
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
Sounds like you have the wrong cap.
Also, remember the surge tank is only plastic -- so too much pressure trying to put-on/off the cap 'could' damage it.
Some folks have had problems with Stant caps, and the 'safety' feature is built-in to all caps, turn it to the 1st stop, lets off the pressure into the overflow tank, most-often without any coolant escaping from the cap.
I'd suggest staying with an ACDelco cap, not sure which model your year should take, but for the 94 it's an RC27.
Also, remember the surge tank is only plastic -- so too much pressure trying to put-on/off the cap 'could' damage it.
Some folks have had problems with Stant caps, and the 'safety' feature is built-in to all caps, turn it to the 1st stop, lets off the pressure into the overflow tank, most-often without any coolant escaping from the cap.
I'd suggest staying with an ACDelco cap, not sure which model your year should take, but for the 94 it's an RC27.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,856
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
I managed to get the cap on after work
The clocking on the tabs is different than the stocker.
Once I figured that out, and pushing it from the sides, it went on just fine.
That's what I get for trying to install stuff 1st thing in the morning
The clocking on the tabs is different than the stocker.
Once I figured that out, and pushing it from the sides, it went on just fine.
That's what I get for trying to install stuff 1st thing in the morning
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
Le Mans Master
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From: Akron Ohio
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