The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Antifreeze - fill, empty, fill, empty

I think I've figured it out - -

I recently did an antifreeze flush as some of you may remember, and realized that the resevior will be empty every now and then. Knowing Chevy radiators, it's probably leaking, but not too much. I think I may have pinned it down though. On the inner passenger side fender, towards the front, near the lights, there's a big HOLE. I originally just thought it was a rust hole, but could it be that the antifreeze is leaking from the resevior and dripping down the fender in this spot, which ate a hole? I don't know if antifreeze can do that, but thought I'd ask here. Thanks for the help!

Keep looking, antifreeze wont cause rust. Get your cooling system pressure tested at the local garage...save time and maybe your engine.

Well, I don't mean that it caused rust, I mean maybe it ate a whole through the metal

Nope. Antifreeze isn't corrosive. It wont eat metal.

Ok so I have a question or two. Is your radiator cap new or old? What poundage is it>? How do you know that the radiator is low? I ask this because if everthing is working correctly shouldn't the extra fluid be drawn back into your radiator when the system cools off? Unless your "resevoir" is just a catch can. Then it should not empty itself but fill and fill and fill till it overflows or the level in your radiator levels off and stops spilling into your catch can.

Good luck

You got an 85? Brian

Yup.

Okay, so it's not corrosive. hmm

Brian, it's an old cap, but it's still in great shape. When the engine is cool, the radiator is filled just to the right level, but there's nothing in the resevior, which is what I would expect.

Maybe a rubber hose is damaged, preventing it from going back to the resevior?

I'll check more

hardy , if memory is correct that is location of battery and now or previous leakage, terminal corrosion brushed, leaked etc. onto the metal will and has done just that, eaten a hole into the sheet metal.