Can a bad plastic coolant recovery tank cause overheating ??

[scholzee]

1996 Aurora flused cooling system, changed themostat and put in fresh coolant. I can drive sometimes a whole day at 200 F, other days it will go 20 miles at 200 F and eventually climp to almost red zone and then leak coolant out the cap on the recovery bottle. Bothe fans come on with AC and I also hear the fans switch to an even faster speed, sometimes when overheating the fans are not running, also it sometimes overheats at 65 mph when I thought the fans are not needed. On the coolant tank there are 2 1/2 inch rubber hoses the one port seems open the other seems to have a restriction in it that does not appear to flow much , is that a breather ? Thanks in advance for all replies!!!

[randy78]

yes if the tank leaks then the cooling system cannot hold the 15or 16lbs psi pressure needed to help keep things cool

this pressure is required to keep it cool

if it leaks then replace it ASAP

[scholzee]

Thanks for the reply but it seems like the cap is venting and releasing coolant down the tank. The cap vents at 15 psi correct ? My tank had some dexcool sludge so I flushed it out and notice the first rubber line on top of tank closest to front of car will pump water out in a 1/4 inch stream. The port it connects to on the tank seems to only have a pin hole to accept the water. Anyone know how those to rubber lines are suppose to work ? I see the tank also has about a 1 inch line on the bottom. What line flows water in the tank ? bottom line sucks it out ? other top line is vent ? How does the system work ? Thanks again for the help!!!

[inafogg]

hello, i just looked at mine 98 2.4L lower hose on tank to engine (water pump maybe)top 1/4 hose to rad return the other small hose into metal tube into thermo housing (bleed off i dunno)it sounds like yours could still be sludged up i'd reflush but if it looks ok to you i'd make sure its not an air pocket.Good Luck & let us no