Venting about defective radiator cap

[Stephen Bowen]

Ok Campers.

About a couple of years ago the Bronco II I drive needed a replacement radiator. So I replaced the radiator and cap at the same time..along with hoses etc…

Now I’m not trashing any brands or such, as every parts maker will have a dud slip past. But I’ve been chasing down coolant leaks for the last year or so–and finally found the root cause of EVERY leak!! And it boils down to forgetting a rule that I should know better with. Check ALL parts, regardless of how new they may appear.

Just to recap things…The heater hoses and upper radiator hoses have always had a seeping issue with coolant. It doesn’t present itself at all while driving–or under a normal pressure test (13 lbs rated cap) So I just said heck with it and kept an eye on it. Recently it’s become a ‘quest’. So I tore into it and replaced the thermostat with the factory one, cleaned EVERYTHING and resealed the hoses/replaced hoses. It was about as bullet proof as I could make it to stop the leaks.

Yesterday on the way home? I stop in to get some soup at the local diner. I come out and I’ve got coolant doing a nice waterfall out of my radiator fins. So because I’ve gotta get home? I start the engine and the temp gauge is nicely in the lower range–and the leak stops?

Fast forward to this morning. NO sign of any leaks under the truck at all. I pull the cap off the radiator and said to the wife–I’m going to check this out just to see what’s up, this is the only part I’ve not double checked. The clerk at the parts house didn’t even know how to test a cap using their stuff. So I tested it.

A 13# cap should start venting at just over 13# right?

Nothing until the cap hit 20 POUNDS!??! No wonder this ol’ girl was seeping coolant out of every connection it had. Driving around? Coolant does it’s thing and circulates….Stop the engine for a while? No flow…pressures increase…. The cap is supposed to vent out to the overflow jugger…and then draw it back in as the system cools and it draws a vacuum effect.

So when the system can’t vent until 20lbs? Plenty of back pressure!!

Long story short, the radiator is pretty well blown. And it’s my fault for not checking a very basic $8 dollar part due to thinking it’s to new to fail.

The auto parts house gave me the contact number for the radiator maker, it’s a life time warranty. They said to give them a shout and ‘not’ mention about the defective cap–they might warranty it just as customer service.

I’m not worries one way or the other. I’m just “Steamed” that a very well known maker? Tripped me up and caused a lot of tail chasing.

There ends the rant…Thanks for reading.

S-

Topic

[Bill]

Yeah, I understand fully bout what you’re saying. Too many parts sold these days that were made in countries where the people are paid less than $1.00 an hour. For that money would you give a damn bout quality? This whole deal is nothing new.

I deal with defective parts sometimes on a daily basis. It makes everyone in the Automotive trade look bad but until the public demands first quality parts and are willing to pay the cost for North American made we will just have to get by with substandard parts.

Thanks for reading MY rant.

[Lorrin Barth]

I lot of the old line parts I’ve depended on are junk now. I don’t remember the brand, the last time I was in O’Relly Auto Parts I just asked for the radiator cap made in Israel. This cap appears to be of better quality.

[Stephen Bowen]

Interesting news from the auto parts store that sold me these items. While the local store failed to locate any receipt or records of my purchasing the radiator and cap? The parent office seems to have located my purchase information and are springing for a warranty replacement of the radiator itself. I’ll have to spring for the cap, but they are taking care of the expensive part–which is that radiator. They will even supply a free return sticker and all the info to send the damaged radiator back.

So at least that should work out well. I’ll just have to wait and see when it shows up.

Thanks!

S-

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