The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rad question and battery question

I had my radiator re- cored for my '51 3100 and installed it along with new water pump,termostat, belt and hoses. I started it up and let it run. after about 10 minutes I noticed a big river of antifreeze flowing from under my vehicle! I then realized that I had put on the old rad cap which is a 0 lbs cap. I think it should be a 4-7 lb cap. I believe the fluid was coming from the overflow tube. Is this most likely the cause of my problem?

Also when I run my truck after I shut it off my battery is completely drained, what would be causing that?

Thanks in advance for you help!

Purney,

On the battery...what does your dash ammeter indicate charge wise. If it's wired in and working, it will tell you if your charging system is "filling" the battery.

Do you have to hook up a charger before you can run your rig again? What meter are you using to tell you your battery is "drained"?

Stuart

From my personal experience, for the battery - I would be testing my alternator/generator. It must not be charging the battery as you drive.

As for the radiator - I was recommended a 4-7lb cap. Replace it and run the truck for a bit. See if thats where your antifreeze is coming from. Is your thermostat working like it should? On another project, I had bought a cheapy one and it didn't open as it should. Had to replace it.

I just got done replacing the radiator, thermostat, belts and hoses on my 53 so once I had it all together and filled it up with water/antifreeze, I let it run to make sure the thermostat was going to open at 180 degrees like it should. I watched with the radiator cap off and sure enough, 180 degrees and it sucked the water right in like it should. Take a look and see that your truck is doing that.

Ill have to check the ammeter, the needle moves so it is working, I just havnt paid much attention to it as the truck is running, I was looking more at the temp.

I do have to hook up the charger after it runs, the charger then tells me the battery is drained completely, it has % charged readout. Its brand new as is the battery.

As far as the radiator Ill have to check the thermostat. I was just wondering if the cap would make that huge a difference in letting the fluid out of the overflow so quickly.

Thanks all!

The radiator level is normally below the top of the cap by about a litre. If you fill it right up , the heated water will expand and eject the excess.

should I be able to see fluid in a cold radiator if its a liter below the opening?

thanks dusty.

If the truck stops when you disconnect the battery the gen is bad. If it keeps running ,the Batt. is shot

A P.S. to the above, I am running a 14lb cap on a good radiator with good results.

You said you ran your motor for about 10 minutes. That doesn't seem long enough to completely drain a battery.

Coolant normally covers the tubes in the rad by perhaps 1/2" to 3/4" Purney. So yes , you can see the coolant.

Maybe the gen needs to be polarised.