Checking for Coolant Loss with Bottle

[Tom Wesenberg]

I've used this overflow bottle many times about 5 or more years ago to check where my coolant was going. It's just a gallon plastic jug tied to my radiator rod, and the hose goes to the bottom of the bottle. The pump was filling the top tank until it went out the overflow pipe, then into my bottle. After I back flushed the block and radiator with my sump pump things were much improved. I made a screen filter for the top hose by wrapping some bug screen into a 5" long cone and sticking it into the top hose. I've cleaned it twice in the last two weeks, and it's still catching rust particles, so I'll leave it in place. I folded a lip all around the large end of the cone to hold the rust particles.

I reinstalled the overflow bottle to make sure the head gasket wasn't going to leak and blow coolant out the overflow tube. I am reusing my very old copper head gasket, and wasn't sure it would work OK, but after two weeks and a hundred miles all looks good. I have a short hose on the end of the overflow so it spits any coolant to the side, rather than into the crossmember. When I connect the hose and bottle I just use a barbed connector to secure the hose. Today I drove 50 MPH plus on the freeway, and no coolant left the radiator, so now I can remove the bottle again.

[dlshady]

Tom,

Why the bypass between the water necks?

[Tom Wesenberg]

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It helps circulate the block coolant until the thermostat opens up, but it's main purpose will be connections to my hot water heater.

Actually I have temporarily remove the thermostat until rust particles stop collecting in my screen.