Water pump weeping due to coolant overfill?
10-07-2016, 04:24 PM
#11
It's been my experience that you fill the radiator with all it can hold. You may need to run the engine for a short bit a few times until it's full. You then add some to the overfill tank, but not above the MAX FILL line, or whatever it's called.
As long as your coolant/water mix is proper the system should remain in balance and not need the overfill tank. Old cars didn't have an overfill tank. The cooling system was a closed loop. That's the way the new ones operate also.
The only time the cap should release pressure is if there's an overheating condition, not during normal operation. Leaving a lot of air in the radiator by siphoning off some fluid will hasten the onset of an overheating condition.
The system is designed to work with a full amount of coolant. Don't reduce the volume or you will have air in the system. This air will create havoc as it 1) doesn't assist with cooling, and 2) expands as it gets hotter putting excessive pressure in the system which will shorten the life of your seals, hoses, radiator, and water pump.
Also, that weep hole is there to allow water that gets passed the internal bearing to escape and to indicate that you are soon going to need a new water pump. Don't block that hole. It only leaks when the bearing gets worn out and should be left open.
As long as your coolant/water mix is proper the system should remain in balance and not need the overfill tank. Old cars didn't have an overfill tank. The cooling system was a closed loop. That's the way the new ones operate also.
The only time the cap should release pressure is if there's an overheating condition, not during normal operation. Leaving a lot of air in the radiator by siphoning off some fluid will hasten the onset of an overheating condition.
The system is designed to work with a full amount of coolant. Don't reduce the volume or you will have air in the system. This air will create havoc as it 1) doesn't assist with cooling, and 2) expands as it gets hotter putting excessive pressure in the system which will shorten the life of your seals, hoses, radiator, and water pump.
Also, that weep hole is there to allow water that gets passed the internal bearing to escape and to indicate that you are soon going to need a new water pump. Don't block that hole. It only leaks when the bearing gets worn out and should be left open.
