Coolant Recover Bottle Cap

[a_alyte]

The cap to my coolant recovery bottle seems to always have alittle antifreeze around it. It eventually drips down the side of the recovery bottle & makes it way to the overflow tube near the wheel well (usually one drip)! This is not a major issue since there are no coolant marks on the ground after parking for long periods, but I'm wondering if this is a sign to get a new cap?

[dksob81]

emove some of the coolant from the bottle. when the engien is cold the COOLANT should only be at the ADD MARK on the reserve tank.

[a_alyte]

This is what I thought, but after driving with the engine at normal operating temperature, the coolant would remain at the add level! I read that the coolant should move up to the full level at normal temp? I did add fluid to bring the coolant up to the full level when cold, however, I 1st noticed alittle bit of coolant escaping the recovery bottle when the level was at the add mark when cold!

[dksob81]

HUMM it shoudln't escape anywhere when at the ADD mark unless u have a hole in the bottle or the overflow hose is leaking.

when the engine is COLD make sure the coolant is at the ADD MARK. if it's over the add mark remove some till it is at the ADD mark, the overflow bottle will go up to the FULL mark when the engine gets over normal operating temp. (not when at normal Operating temp) normal operating temp is around 180, and when the Thermostat opens up around 195 degrees this will alow the coolant to go into the overflow bottle. so at normal operating temps the fluid should stay around the ADD mark maybe a lil above, but shouldn't go to the FULL mark or above until the THERMOSTAT opens up (195 degree - stock thermostat).

if the Coolant is above the ADD mark, around the FULL mark when the engine is cold, then when the engine gets hott and the Coolant expands and needs to go into the recovery bottle, there will not be enough room in the bottle for the extra coolant to expand. this could cause problems in the Cooling system.

[dksob81]

I kinda jumped all over the place with the explaination, I hope it helps. if u don't understand I will try to sum it up, with a better explaination.

[a_alyte]

I understood perfectly, thanks! The repair manual contradicts itself when talking about this topic! I'll have to remove some fluid to bring it back to the add mark, when cold! Defintely don't want to damage the cooling system unnecessarily. Thanks again!!

[dksob81]

your welcome

[dksob81]

Yea I Know what you mean about the haynes manual contradicting itself. it says to allow the engine to cool down then refill to the FULL mark, I think it meant to add to the FULL mark while it was hott. it's says somewhere in the owners manual that it should be on the ADD mark when the engine is completely cold - which makes sense, that way it has more room for the hott (expanded) fluid.

[a_alyte]

I agree, it does make more sense to maintain the coolant at the add level. I'll be removing the extra fluid tomorrow! Haynes definitely could have been a bit more accurate about this, but even they make mistakes!! I appreciate your input though!