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06-29-2021, 08:17 PM | #1 |
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Radiator hot or not
Went on a 236 mile trip. Motometer did not register hot. Got home and checked water level in radiator and it has used 3/4 of a gallon. Is this unusual or not to use up this much water. It had a 50/50 mix in it. Prior to the trip I had a heat test done to my engine and radiator and it was between 160 and 180 depending what they were shooting it at. Car did not give any sign of overheating. It was a hot day in the 80's.
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06-29-2021, 08:20 PM | #2 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
Looks Great for me!! Did it actually use 3/4 gl or did it just seeks its own level!?
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06-29-2021, 08:26 PM | #3 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
That's how much I had to add to bring up the level in the radiator.
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06-29-2021, 08:53 PM | #4 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
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06-29-2021, 09:05 PM | #5 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
I may have filled it an inch too high. I could see the water just below the overflow tube.
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06-29-2021, 09:59 PM | #6 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
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-Hot Day? -Used 3/4's of a gallon of water? -Ran great and did not overheat? Sounds like motor did it's job and you enjoyed your trip to me - (must be a good mechanic) Normal maintenance (now you have to feed it)
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06-29-2021, 11:45 PM | #7 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
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06-30-2021, 08:05 AM | #8 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
Thanks all. I just am not sure how many miles I can put on it in one day without it overheating.
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06-30-2021, 08:39 AM | #9 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
Now that you have overfilled the radiator ! leave the cap off, start the motor, look in the radiator for bubbles, if you have a thermostat watch for it to open, burp burp and then coolant flowing. Tiny bubbles = leaking head gasket, torque head nuts before replacing gasket.
226 mile drive sounds like your getting to know your A, take it out for a 326 mile drive enjoy !
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06-30-2021, 10:48 AM | #10 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
You should be able to drive it for days, weeks or longer without having to add coolant.
Get a cheap dial meat thermometer, pull the cap off and test the actual coolant temperature by sticking the probe into it. Pull off the road once in a while, pop the cap and check your temperature. By taking the cap off you can also familiarize yourself with how your coolant level fluctuates with temperature changes. After a while you will either spot a problem with the temp or you will become comfortable with how your engine is performing. A's do not have a pressurized system so you can remove the cap while hot.
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06-30-2021, 03:03 PM | #11 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
Mine did that, where the rad was stone cold. I added about the same amount or more so I think I have a crack or a leak. Have someone drive behind you and if they see a puff of smoke as you accelerate check for a leak somewhere.
Mike
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06-30-2021, 03:11 PM | #12 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
If you shot it and got 180, you're NOT overheating. You may have just overfilled it.
JMO Paul in CT |
06-30-2021, 04:09 PM | #13 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
I was with a group of 10 - 12 model a's and I was the 3rd one in line part of the day. I didn`t think to check it untill after I got home, the next morning. I do know I had overfilled it the day before because a friend of mine said I was throwing out some water when I went by his house. That could be where I lost a good portion of it due to over filling. My last trip was just over 100 miles and I used just a little watering that. A friend of mine says my roadster is jinxed because I don't have any leaks.
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06-30-2021, 11:59 PM | #14 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
If you want to, you can push a rubber hose on the radiator overflow tube, then hang a jug of some kind in the engine compartment. Make sure the hose goes to the bottom of the jug. As the engine cools back down it'll suck the coolant back in. It'll help you diagnose the problem, if you have one. As others have said, you shouldn't need to add any coolant. I check mine every spring and every couple years add a cup or two. Make sure your radiator cap is sealed.
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07-01-2021, 09:21 AM | #15 |
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Re: Radiator hot or not
Thanks eagle. I think I will try that. Since I am always tinkering with something in the garage daily I can check the coolant level also.
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