Why does my radiator have so much pressure?
The coolant continually running from your radiator to your hot, running engine and back again creates a lot of pressure. That pressure buildup will eventually spell doom for your radiator hoses. If your radiator is too corroded, this can cause a leak in the body of your radiator even if the hoses are intact.
What pressure does a radiator run at?
16 PSI
The Function of Radiator Pressure Caps: Most radiator pressure caps keep the system pressure at 16 PSI so the engine coolant can get considerably hotter without the fear that it will boil off. If there is no pressure in the cooling system, the coolant will boil off.
Are high pressure radiator caps worth it?
If your current cooling system is running well and doesn’t overheat, a high-pressure cap is unnecessary. It won’t hurt anything. But it won’t help either.
What does the pressure rating on the radiator do?
The cap pressure rating has nothing to do with regulating your engine coolant temperature, nor will it make your engine run cooler. Let’s take a pan of water and heat it up.
Why was my VS Commodore running so hot?
The reservoir isn’t pressurised, so leaving the cap loose won’t have any effect. If you wanted to reduce the pressure, you would have to leave the cap on the top of the radiator loose. I wouldn’t be so sure it’s head gasket. Given the reservoir was bone dry, we could assume the cooling system itself might also have been low.
What causes coolant to overflow from the radiator?
As coolant gets hot due to it absorbing heat from the engine, the liquid expands and creates additional pressure in the radiator. As the pressure causes the coolant to get higher than the radiator pressure cap, the excess coolant needs to be captured somewhere in order to prevent leakage.
What’s the boiling point of a 15 psi radiator?
A system with 15 psi cap will add 45 degrees for a final boiling point of 268 degrees. The real purpose of pressurizing is to give drivers a higher operating zone in case of extreme conditions. For example, let’s say your classic car normally runs at 180-190 and boiling is not a concern. Then on a hot day the temperature goes to 200-210.
How do you fill a VZ Commodore radiator?
Tape up the neck to increase the diameter so it can be a snug fit in the radiator fill neck. Apply a hose clamp to the overflow hose, or remove it from the overflow tank and block the end. Intially the high water level will help purge the air, squeezing the lower radiator hose helps.
How to check engine temp on VZ Commodore?
Intially the high water level will help purge the air, squeezing the lower radiator hose helps. Once the system appears to be settled, start the engine heater on max hot, fan speed 1. Run until no further bubbles appear, observe engine temp during this time.
What does the pressure valve on a radiator do?
The radiator’s pressure valve offers a double-duty function. It allows refrigerant to flow into the expansion tank when pressure rises and then initiates reverse-flow when the pressure falls and the liquid is cold.
What to do if your VZ Commodore overflows?
They are known for many coolant loss areas. If the overflow was overflowing, replace the cap first after getting the level bled up. Check the heater tap, water pump, and valley area of the block for leaks. Hopefully not a headgasket or porous head.