[Tigers] Coolant queston

[Mark L]

My experience has been that the electric fan in addition to the mechanical fan does a good job in keeping the temp in check. But, if the engine does overheat, turning on the electric fan doesn't do much in  getting the temp back down.

In a message dated 9/9/2026 3:35:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jbbrown1980 at gmail.com writes: 
When I first got the car running I didn't know how much coolant to have in the expansion tank so I started out with it filled up.  It boiled over pretty quickly so I kept experimenting with it until I found a level that didn't puke; maybe about a quarter full.  I added the overflow tank later just in case.  I suppose I could fill the expansion tank back but I haven't bothered.  I tried using a 13psi cap but it blew a radiator hose off, so I went back to a 9psi cap. I also read that the higher pressure could be hard on the heater core. I also installed an electric fan that comes on at 190 degrees and I haven't had any other issues. Thanks, Joe 
On Wed, Sep 9, 2026, 12:35 PM Gary Winblad <winbladgary at gmail.com> wrote:
Yes, I think it is a recovery type!How high is the coolant in the TIger tank?  If it is full, you are goodGary Winblad 
On Wed, Sep 9, 2026 at 9:13 AM Joe Brown <jbbrown1980 at gmail.com> wrote:
I went back and looked at my cap.  Everything I've read says that the recovery style caps have two seals; one at the top of the cap and one on the spring loaded part.  Here is a photo of my cap.  Can I assume that I have a recovery style cap? Thanks,Joe
On Wed, Sep 9, 2026 at 7:00 AM michael king <michael.s.king at gmail.com> wrote:
Joe.   You describe how the system works..but without a specific recovery cap the water cant get back into the header tank once its out.. it just becomes a catch overflow  Regards

Michael King
On Wed, 9 Sept 2026, 19:57 Joe Brown, <jbbrown1980 at gmail.com> wrote:
I've got the regular pressure cap on the original expansion tank and my understanding was that it would open up if the coolant was boiling over and the excess coolant would then flow into the catch can.  And then as the coolant cooled down it would be sucked back into the expansion tank.  Do I need some other kind of radiator cap? Thanks,Joe
On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 5:50 PM Gary Winblad <winbladgary at gmail.com> wrote:
Joe,Hopefully you also added the double seal cap?  You need that to make it a recovery system, not just a catch canWith recovery, the overflow is pulled back in during cool down.  That is what makes the radiator always full to the top,for a few more tubes of cooling.Gary Winblad 
On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM Joe Brown <jbbrown1980 at gmail.com> wrote:
Hey,I added an overflow tank several years ago and I went with one I found on Amazon.  It's called an 800ml aluminum expansion tank from BDFHYK and it's around $25.   I wasn't using the remote oil filter, so I mounted this tank in the filter bracket.  This tank is slimmer than an oil  filter so I had to fabricate a new clamp to secure it.  Here is a photo.  Have Fun,Joe Brown 
On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM Mark L via Tigers <tigers at autox.team.net> wrote:
So, the plastic kit you mentioned will stand up to the heat of the engine compartment okay?

In a message dated 9/8/2026 5:18:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, winbladgary at gmail.com writes: 
Mark,IT is worth adding.  Cost and trouble are minimal. You can buy a kit at the auto parts store (plastic tank, dual seal cap, tygon hose) for cheap.Hard to say exactly how much cooling capacity it really adds..  it DOES keep the radiator full to the top, the extra quart doesn't matter.I put the tank in the wheel well behind the headlight, out of sight, out of the way.A very important reason to add is that it stops the leak of antifreeze, which is toxic to small animals.  When we were in Big Sky for SUNI, we stoppedinto a small museum.  I will never forget the huge stuffed Condor on display.  The placard said he died from driniking anitfreeze from anoverheated car... so sad, he was beautiful rare bird.  Please install the system..Gary Winblad
On Tue, Sep 8, 2026 at 7:56 AM Mark L via Tigers <tigers at autox.team.net> wrote:
I know some have added an overflow to the expansion tank. This seemingly allow the expansion tank to be filled to the top rather than only 1/2 full.  Is the addition of an overflow worth installing?  It appears this would add an additional  1 quart to the system.   How much difference would this make on cooling?
Thanks, Mark L_______________________________________________

tigers at autox.team.net

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/winbladgary@gmail.com




_______________________________________________

tigers at autox.team.net

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/jbbrown1980@gmail.com





_______________________________________________

tigers at autox.team.net

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/michael.s.king@gmail.com






_______________________________________________

tigers at autox.team.net

Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/coolvt@aol.com



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/tigers/attachments/20260909/750def3c/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PXL_20260909_160805998.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1504885 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/tigers/attachments/20260909/750def3c/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: PXL_20260908_220938306.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2513397 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/tigers/attachments/20260909/750def3c/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 358095 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/tigers/attachments/20260909/750def3c/attachment-0001.png>