Coolant Surge Tank
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Radiator/Coolant Surge Tank
After making a quick trip to the grocery store I pulled into the garage turned the car and then I heard this loud "gurgling" coming from under the right side of the hood. I opened the hood and I saw the coolant gurgling/bubbling in the black/clear plastic surge tank. For a second I thought that maybe I was about to have a coolant boil over, but it didn't. I restarted the engine and the temp was around 211 (hot outside -- and I did not have the A/C and fans on). It only lasted about 6-8 seconds, but I don't recall that happening before. I always thought that if the radiator needed coolant that the surge tank would provide the coolant at a slower rate as the system cooled off. Has anyone experienced this with their C5?
(it was like the radiator suddenly got very thirsty)
2001 Cpe, Pewter, MN6, Z51
:lolg:
[Modified by Mark S., 12:41 PM 5/15/2003]
[Modified by Mark S., 12:54 PM 5/15/2003]
(it was like the radiator suddenly got very thirsty)
2001 Cpe, Pewter, MN6, Z51
:lolg:
[Modified by Mark S., 12:41 PM 5/15/2003]
[Modified by Mark S., 12:54 PM 5/15/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
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From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Re: Coolant Surge Tank (Mark S.)
Check the surge tank "cap" I have a 98 coupe and had a problem with the upper radiator hose "collapsing" The problem was the cap. I'm not sure what year they changed it, (even though it's the same part number) but you might want to compare yours to a late 2002 to see if there is a difference. Or,take it to a dealer and compare it to showroom model. Good luck
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Coolant Surge Tank (vette#one)
Rob, I certainly will...but I will say that this morning the level of the coolant looked good, etc. I will stop by the local Chevy dealer and pick up a new cap.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Richmond Ca
Re: Radiator/Coolant Surge Tank (Mark S.)
When you shut the engine off, things heat up mightily for a while (it get's hotter not cooler at first). This could cause Coolant would move from the radiator to the surge tank for a little while after shut-down.
I say nothing is wrong. except you may have had some air at the top of your radiator which now should be gone. :cheers:
I say nothing is wrong. except you may have had some air at the top of your radiator which now should be gone. :cheers:
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Radiator/Coolant Surge Tank (wwashing)
wwashing, I think you're right because I did check it this afternoon after purposely running the temperature up to 220 and then turning off the engine...no noises (checked under the hood).
Rob, BTW I did pick up a new cap at the local Chevy Dealer but check this out. The cap has a new pressure rating -- 18 PSI vs 15 PSI. I checked under the hood of a new '03 Z06 and it had a 15 PSI cap and then I checked under the hood of a used '01 Cpe Convertible and the cap was also 15 PSI, HOWEVER, the parts list showed that the '01-'03 have this new 18 PSI cap. I didn't want to put the new cap on. I don't think that an additional 3 PSI would cause some problems, but why the change?
2001 Coupe, Pewter, MN6, Z51
Rob, BTW I did pick up a new cap at the local Chevy Dealer but check this out. The cap has a new pressure rating -- 18 PSI vs 15 PSI. I checked under the hood of a new '03 Z06 and it had a 15 PSI cap and then I checked under the hood of a used '01 Cpe Convertible and the cap was also 15 PSI, HOWEVER, the parts list showed that the '01-'03 have this new 18 PSI cap. I didn't want to put the new cap on. I don't think that an additional 3 PSI would cause some problems, but why the change?
2001 Coupe, Pewter, MN6, Z51
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
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From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Re: Radiator/Coolant Surge Tank (Mark S.)
________________________________________ ________________________
BTW I did pick up a new cap at the local Chevy Dealer but check this out. The cap has a new pressure rating -- 18 PSI vs 15 PSI. I checked under the hood of a new '03 Z06 and it had a 15 PSI cap and then I checked under the hood of a used '01 Cpe Convertible and the cap was also 15 PSI, HOWEVER, the parts list showed that the '01-'03 have this new 18 PSI cap. I didn't want to put the new cap on. I don't think that an additional 3 PSI would cause some problems, but why the change?
________________________________________ ________________________
You made me look........I just came back from the garage...My replacement cap is also 18 psi....look at the bottom side of the cap, you will notice there is a difference. Why the extra PSI ? I don't know..I've been using the new cap since last July without any issuses. My upper radiator hose doesn't collapse any more. The car doesn't run any hotter or cooler than before.
BTW I did pick up a new cap at the local Chevy Dealer but check this out. The cap has a new pressure rating -- 18 PSI vs 15 PSI. I checked under the hood of a new '03 Z06 and it had a 15 PSI cap and then I checked under the hood of a used '01 Cpe Convertible and the cap was also 15 PSI, HOWEVER, the parts list showed that the '01-'03 have this new 18 PSI cap. I didn't want to put the new cap on. I don't think that an additional 3 PSI would cause some problems, but why the change?
________________________________________ ________________________
You made me look........I just came back from the garage...My replacement cap is also 18 psi....look at the bottom side of the cap, you will notice there is a difference. Why the extra PSI ? I don't know..I've been using the new cap since last July without any issuses. My upper radiator hose doesn't collapse any more. The car doesn't run any hotter or cooler than before.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Radiator/Coolant Surge Tank (vette#one)
Robert, I'm glad to hear that you haven't seen any difference in the 18 PSI cap. After all, when others get their caps replaced in the future they will all have it (eventually). I was just concerned that the additional 3 PSI might cause the hoses/fittings to leak since there would be a slight change in pressure. But then again, 3 PSI is really not that much. Thanks for checking!
