Hi,

My radiator spring a leak today in the middle of the local Memorial Day parade. This is the second time this season that I've had radiator problems -- there was fluid coming out of the overflow tube when I took it out of storage in May. Was not able to figure out the problem then but have been watching it closely.

The radiator is coming out tomorrow and will go to the local repair shop. The thermostat is only a year old -- I replaced it shortly after I got the car. I want to get to the root cause and am wondering if it's something else besides the radiator.

Has anyone had a similar experience? You were all a big help diagnosing another problem I had with the rear brake cylinders.

Regards,
Mark

 

Mark, radiator pressure caps should be considered suspect if the coolant loss is limited to the overflow tube. Of course given the "junky" nature of many thermostats these days unless you have a Robertshaw thermostat in that engine it could be a bad thermostat again. Off brand radiator caps are also crap.

 

Both the thermotstat and the radiator cap are from Car Quest. I'll definitely look into the the alternatives you suggest.

Regards,
Mark

 

X2 on using quality parts, I tried the cheap stuff didn't work.

 

I'm compelled to make a correction regarding thermostats. Robertshaw controls is apparently no longer producing automotive thermostats and any inventory is only likely to be found on ebay. This leaves only one actually 100% domestically produced line of automotive thermostats and radiator caps. That product line is CTS.

http://www.cstinc.org/products.htm

Stant may still be making some things domestically but since 1997 have been British owned and merged into an automotive group which among some includes: Gates Rubber Company/Stant/Plews/Edelman/Schrader Bridgeport/Schrader Electronics and Dexter Axle.

We're getting to the point not even our automotive replacement parts companies are any longer U.S. owned. Sad state of affairs indeed.

 

Agree on all counts and thanks for the clarification.

Regards,
Mark

 

Mr Gasket t-stats are the same good ones that Robertshaw used to sell. You can get em at autozone.

 

"Apparently" would mean 25+ years ago, when Robertshaw-Fulton sold the design to Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. in Novi, MI, who is still making Robertshaw thermostats.

Stewart Components, Flow Kooler, Milodon, and Mr Gasket, use the same design.

Norm