Coolant reservoir question
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Instructor
Joined: May 2015
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From: Bay Area, CA
Coolant reservoir question
After draining the old coolant on my 80 US auto, I began adding more coolant through the reservoir.
It took about 1.5 gallons of coolant before the reservoir was full. I ran the car shortly, expecting the thermostat to open and pull coolant from the reservoir. It stayed full.
The gauge goes from zero to real hot within minutes. I don't know how accurately this gauge is working, I don't see how the car could go from cold to overheating within a few minutes. The fuel gauge is super wonky too, with 5.5 gallons of gas it registers about 3/4 full most of the time.
At this point it's hard to tell what's going on, if the water pump has failed, which I see no evidence of. I replaced the thermostat and just the lost coolant from that operation was minimal. The reservoir was empty again, so I put in almost a gallon before it was full again. It still doesn't pull anything from the reservoir.
Maybe I'm missing something, maybe everything is working as it should and my gauge is faulty. Hard to say.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
It took about 1.5 gallons of coolant before the reservoir was full. I ran the car shortly, expecting the thermostat to open and pull coolant from the reservoir. It stayed full.
The gauge goes from zero to real hot within minutes. I don't know how accurately this gauge is working, I don't see how the car could go from cold to overheating within a few minutes. The fuel gauge is super wonky too, with 5.5 gallons of gas it registers about 3/4 full most of the time.
At this point it's hard to tell what's going on, if the water pump has failed, which I see no evidence of. I replaced the thermostat and just the lost coolant from that operation was minimal. The reservoir was empty again, so I put in almost a gallon before it was full again. It still doesn't pull anything from the reservoir.
Maybe I'm missing something, maybe everything is working as it should and my gauge is faulty. Hard to say.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
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From: Bay Area, CA
Good call, I only drained the radiator itself. But in that case the blocks should not be empty, especially if the system all draws from the reservoir.
If that logic follows, then what? Bad gauge? Bad water pump? Or possibly the coolant still left in the block is so old it's ineffective?
If that logic follows, then what? Bad gauge? Bad water pump? Or possibly the coolant still left in the block is so old it's ineffective?
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: North Country
The way the temp went up so fast, it sounds like the block had no fluid in it. Just curious, did you have the temp slider on your HVAC unit all the way to the right for heat when you were doing the maneuver ? This will open the heater valve. The volume of fluid in core and it's two lines needs to circulate and clear as well.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
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From: Bay Area, CA
The way the temp went up so fast, it sounds like the block had no fluid in it. Just curious, did you have the temp slider on your HVAC unit all the way to the right for heat when you were doing the maneuver ? This will open the heater valve. The volume of fluid in core and it's two lines needs to circulate and clear as well.
If the block was empty, shouldn't it be pulling from the reservoir anyways? That is the only fillable point if I'm not mistaken.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: North Country
That's scary. My heater blower (nor trim lights) is not currently working, possibly a bad relay or short somewhere. Just got it running for the first time in over a decade, and there are a ton of things to get working. Anyways, no I didn't leave the slider to the hot side, totally forgot about trying that.
If the block was empty, shouldn't it be pulling from the reservoir anyways? That is the only fillable point if I'm not mistaken.
If the block was empty, shouldn't it be pulling from the reservoir anyways? That is the only fillable point if I'm not mistaken.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
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From: Bay Area, CA
Sounds like you weren't sure of the coolant level status in the system. Is this right ? You could try and add some of your 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water directly to the block. The large radiator hose on the Left side/Driver's side is the output from the radiator back to the block. Slowly with a flexible funnel try that just to get some fluid in there. Is worth a shot. Things may not work as designed if the block is bone dry. Make sure the heat slider is to hot. Even if your vacuum to it is dead, by default it goes to the open mode if the valve is functional. Also you can try turning the blower to MAX. If the resistor pack is gone it may still work at MAX. Not sure of the relays/electrics on pre S4's.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: North Country
As much as you can SLOWLY before it spits back out and makes a mess. Add some then let it find its levels in it galleys. To it again till saturation then close back up. You could put some in the other rad hose to the block in the same slow fashion. Will fill the other side of the 'V'. Hopefully it just needs to be primed like a pump and it is not the actual pump at issue. Best Wishes.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
As much as you can SLOWLY before it spits back out and makes a mess. Add some then let it find its levels in it galleys. To it again till saturation then close back up. Hopefully it just needs to be primed like a pump and it is not the actual pump at issue. Best Wishes.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2015
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From: Bay Area, CA
After I shut it down, waited a few minutes and twisted the cap slightly on the reservoir, it did boil when I released a little pressure twisting the cap slowly. It would have totally shot out if opened it more.
What am I looking for by checking the lower hose - heat or tons of pressure?
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From: Bowling Green, KY
To see if it gets hot as it will when the thermostat opens. Also, you can help purge the system by squeezing this hose after the t'stat has opened.
If the lower hose is still cool to the touch and the tank is boiling over after you shut it down, then you either have a blockage or no circulation. It's most likely the latter. These cars don't always purge quickly, but the system doesn't get big air pockets that stop circulation in my experience.
If the lower hose is still cool to the touch and the tank is boiling over after you shut it down, then you either have a blockage or no circulation. It's most likely the latter. These cars don't always purge quickly, but the system doesn't get big air pockets that stop circulation in my experience.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: North Country
Didn't know you had boiling in the reservoir.
When the engine ran, did it run smooth or like it was missing on a cylinder ?
Any white smoke from the exhaust ?
Evidence of any leaking fluid and if so, where ?
When the engine ran, did it run smooth or like it was missing on a cylinder ?
Any white smoke from the exhaust ?
Evidence of any leaking fluid and if so, where ?
Rennlist Member
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From: Bowling Green, KY