[TR] Coolant Level Question

[wbeech at flash.net]

A quart every two days!?!?  That a lot of coolant, is it running out on the
ground or disappearing into the engine.  If you are losing it via the leak
in your radiator that you are planning to fix, this is a good thing as
opposed to a head gasket.

At that level of loss I would recommend that you not drive it until it is
fixed.  However, if you are in a situation that your MUST drive then back
the radiator cap off one notch so there is no pressure in your system.  Of
course, this is not ideal and you should not put any undo stress on the car
while driving this way but I have done it before when I had a pinhole in a
hose and did not want to be stranded.

As to your above or below the head question, I would agree with you in that
if everything is working properly in your system that the flow of coolant
will take care of the head's heat.  You still have to have a full system as
a 'half-full' system will not provide the cooling that a TR3 needs.

Hope this helps,
Bill

Bill Beecher
'58 TR-3A TS30766L  "Tarbaby"
www.triumphowners.com/1566
"A Triumph is man's best friend, it always comes when it is called...of
course, some times it is difficult to make it go"



-----Original Message-----
From: triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of terryrs at comcast.net
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 3:45 PM
To: Triumph List
Subject: [TR] Coolant Level Question

I seem to remember being told that the coolant level in the radiator must be
above the head on the engine.  Reason being, the head will not have coolant
if it's lower than the radiator level.  This can cause a warped head.

This would seem to make sense when the engine is off.  But when the water
pump is pushing water, or pulling it whatever, would it fill the head even
if the radiator is just half full?

Important question because I seem to have a radiator leak that drops a quart
every couple of days.  Engine operating temperature is normal, but is the
reading accurate for the head?  

Will try emptying the coolant and soldering the radiator next week when I'm
on vacation.  Can I drive it this week?

Terry Smith, '59 TR3A
New Hampshire

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