Radiator/Water Reservoir Issue

[KeMo]

I'm having issues with my water reservoir pulling water from my radiator and not returning it after the car cools down.

I have a 2005 Cruiser. Just replaced the heater core and the radiator cap. I have an 18 psi cap instead of the 16. I read several posts on this site about going higher on the cap pressure. I have had a radiator pressure test done and it's holding at 16.

This issue I'm having was going on BEFORE I replaced the cap and the heater core.

The car does not overheat after driving around town.

I've included pictures of the reservoir water level and where the water is sitting under the cap.

Is there anyway to fix this?

[Carl48]

There has to be a vacuum created as the radiator cools down to allow the coolant to return to the radiator from the overflow bottle. if the hose between the two has even a pinhole leak or if the connection at either end of the hose is not tight then no vacuum and thus no coolant return to the radiator.

[KeMo]

Originally Posted by Carl48

There has to be a vacuum created as the radiator cools down to allow the coolant to return to the radiator from the overflow bottle. if the hose between the two has even a pinhole leak or if the connection at either end of the hose is not tight then no vacuum and thus no coolant return to the radiator.

Thank you for the reply!

I went out and started checking around that hose and as I was lifting it up out of the side engine crevice, water started pouring out right where the hose connects to the radiator. I pulled it off, cut about 1/4 of an inch off and reattached it to the radiator. I started the car to get it warmed up, then turned it off to let it cool down and see if it does it's thing. I'll let you know in a few hours how it went.

[soonercruiser]

The other thing that I have noticed on my 7 PTs is, a PT does not like to have the reservoir full.
It will always spit out what it doesn't need.
And that I can barely see the level in the reservoir most of the time.

I overfill - it spits it out!

[raeder]

Originally Posted by Carl48

There has to be a vacuum created as the radiator cools down to allow the coolant to return to the radiator from the overflow bottle. if the hose between the two has even a pinhole leak or if the connection at either end of the hose is not tight then no vacuum and thus no coolant return to the radiator.

My buddy is looking at this PT with intermittent overheating issue. The owner replaced the radiator cap and it still overheat. We'll take a look at the hose and pump this weekend after we install the bumper and rack from 4Wheelonline onto the Jeep TJ.

[Carl48]

Make sure the cooling fan is working properly.
The water pump is in the engine driven by the timing belt.

[soonercruiser]

Originally Posted by raeder

My buddy is looking at this PT with intermittent overheating issue. The owner replaced the radiator cap and it still overheat. We'll take a look at the hose and pump this weekend after we install the bumper and rack from 4Wheelonline onto the Jeep TJ.

When it overheats, be sure to check the upper radiator hose!
If it's still cool, he's got a bad thermostat.

[raeder]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

When it overheats, be sure to check the upper radiator hose!
If it's still cool, he's got a bad thermostat.

It overheats! We'll check the hose.

[KeMo]

Originally Posted by Carl48

There has to be a vacuum created as the radiator cools down to allow the coolant to return to the radiator from the overflow bottle. if the hose between the two has even a pinhole leak or if the connection at either end of the hose is not tight then no vacuum and thus no coolant return to the radiator.

I apologize for the late reply. I had a million things going on since I last posted.

Here's my update.

After cutting some of the overflow hose off, it seemed like it worked for a day, then when right back to pulling water out of that radiator area (sorry, I'm a computer repair guy I don't know a lot about cars) and sucking the water I added to the radiator into the reservoir. My only option left is to replace that hose.

I'm guessing that it's called an "overflow hose"? Do you know what the size is for the replacement?

I found some on Amazon, but I don't know the size.

This is the one I was looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Length-Temper.../dp/B08LP968ND

[soonercruiser]

You should be able to find a suitable size hose at your local auto parts store.