Blue green color around radiator
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 313
From: Chattanooga Tn.
Blue green color around radiator
So I have this blue green algae looking color all around my radiator(67 Cutlass)
Temp seems to run fine except in hot weather.Temp goes over half on dash meter.I can see fluid dripping.
Haven't isolated where it is coming from.looks like the only thing that is not original is the radiator cap.It seems it is a pressure cap for newer model cars with overflow.Could this be the issue? Or why the Blue green tarnish around the radiator? Thanks
Temp seems to run fine except in hot weather.Temp goes over half on dash meter.I can see fluid dripping.
Haven't isolated where it is coming from.looks like the only thing that is not original is the radiator cap.It seems it is a pressure cap for newer model cars with overflow.Could this be the issue? Or why the Blue green tarnish around the radiator? Thanks
Oldsdruid
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,628
From: Southside Vajenya
You have a coolant leak somewhere, as you've guessed. The green film is corrosion of the radiator's brass tanks caused by chemical makeup of the coolant. Won't hurt anything, it will just be unsightly and left unchecked could cause a low coolant level.
When it cools check the radiator level; it should be a couple inches below the filler neck. Overfilling it will cause the pressure cap to relieve and dump coolant, and that's one of the most common mistakes I see younger hobbyists unused to older cars make.
You should make sure you have the correct non-overflow jug cap- a 13-15 psi cap should be just about right for this car.
When it cools check the radiator level; it should be a couple inches below the filler neck. Overfilling it will cause the pressure cap to relieve and dump coolant, and that's one of the most common mistakes I see younger hobbyists unused to older cars make.
You should make sure you have the correct non-overflow jug cap- a 13-15 psi cap should be just about right for this car.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 313
From: Chattanooga Tn.
Non overflow Jug cap
You have a coolant leak somewhere, as you've guessed. The green film is corrosion of the radiator's brass tanks caused by chemical makeup of the coolant. Won't hurt anything, it will just be unsightly and left unchecked could cause a low coolant level.
When it cools check the radiator level; it should be a couple inches below the filler neck. Overfilling it will cause the pressure cap to relieve and dump coolant, and that's one of the most common mistakes I see younger hobbyists unused to older cars make.
You should make sure you have the correct non-overflow jug cap- a 13-15 psi cap should be just about right for this car.
When it cools check the radiator level; it should be a couple inches below the filler neck. Overfilling it will cause the pressure cap to relieve and dump coolant, and that's one of the most common mistakes I see younger hobbyists unused to older cars make.
You should make sure you have the correct non-overflow jug cap- a 13-15 psi cap should be just about right for this car.
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,496
From: Poteau, Ok
Without an over flow jug as stated above you need to run a higher pressure cap, with a jug 6-8 lb cap. The advantage of running an overflow bottle is you don't have to worry about the radiator level, it will fill on it's own due to the vacuum effect of the fluid cooling.
The red lever cap is to relieve any minimal pressure left when the radiator cools.
The level of coolant in the radiator should be 1 inch over the trans cooler line inside the radiator when looking down the neck with the engine running after the thermostat opens.
Again the green crud is a leak due to a faulty cap or crack in the radator.
The red lever cap is to relieve any minimal pressure left when the radiator cools.
The level of coolant in the radiator should be 1 inch over the trans cooler line inside the radiator when looking down the neck with the engine running after the thermostat opens.
Again the green crud is a leak due to a faulty cap or crack in the radator.
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