Malcolm Stebbins wrote: > John Rodgers : we seem to agree, except for what > happens under NORMAL operating conditions - IMHO the > expansion (overflow) tank is inactive under NORMAL > operating conditions and is only used when the system > begins to over-heat and the cap "lets go" above its > specified setting. > > I have read today's posts on this topic. What I meant to > say was that AFAIK, the Coolant Reservoir cap pressure > relief valve is set higher! than the "normal" operating temp > of the engine - when warmed up. My experience is that I > can drive around all day (even with external temps at 44 > deg. C) and the coolant reservoir cap will NOT allow the > coolant to flow into the Overflow tank - as long as the van > keeps moving! And (just for the record) when the engine > cools down it is the pressure that drops and no coolant is > sucked from my van's overflow tank - under NORMAL > operations. > > When going up a looooong hill (in 3rd gear), or stuck in > traffic, on a HOT day then YES, the fan comes on and if > that does not cool things down, then the coolant reservoir > cap "lets go" and some of the pressure is relived from the > system and, upon cool down, then, yes, coolant is > sucked back into the Coolant Reservoir tank from the > overflow tank via the coolant res. cap. This "sucking > back" may happen while I drive - as the engine temp > returns to "normal". > > So I hope that we agree. Malcolm For some of us being stuck in traffic on a hot day *is* "normal conditions". Larry A. Chicago |
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