Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me

Posted By: Ramrod39

Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 01:33 AM

Help me select a coolant overflow system. Some are "recovery" systems with different caps and venting systems, some just hold some coolant, but don't let it flow back to the radiator? Is this right?

Please explain my options. Parts recommendations gladly accepted. Thanks.

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 01:49 AM

A "recovery" system will have the hose enter at the bottom of the tank (at least usually). That way it (the radiator/engine) can suck coolant back out.
You then use a recovery rad cap that has the little dime size metal 'button' on the seal side (the part below the big spring). That little button will allow the flow back into the rad under really light vacuum conditions (when the coolant is starting to cool and contract).
Very effective--you want it.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 02:14 AM

What Pac said. Top off the rad neck to the brim of the inside lip where the cap seats. You're wanting to get all the air out of there. No magic just pick the type/shape/color of bottle that suits you/looks good. I have a 2 liter plastic pepsi bottle on a DD w a hose to the bottom, a lever stant recovery cap, works fine. When an inventor patented it (then sold it to the car companies) it's selling point was that the elim of air pockets gave more uniform cooling and lowered temps as much as 10 deg (F) and less oxygen from losing the pockets slowed rust development

Posted By: Dabee

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 03:13 AM

I use a JAZZ over flow bottle. I run the hose from the radiator to the drain on the bottom of the JAZZ bottle and just leave valve open. Works just like a factory recovery system.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 03:41 AM

Quote:

and just leave valve open.

Correct, you need the bottle vented at the top

Posted By: Exit1965

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 03:47 AM

I picked one up from Autozone. Was tired of the car taking a leak when hot and didn't like the look of a beer can

It's hard to see, but the clear tubing goes to the bottom on the left side.

Posted By: MidPenMopar

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 03:50 AM

I bought a cool aluminium cylinder type at a swap for $20 and it not only works good but looks neat too! You just need to attach it and plumb it with some rubber hose.

Posted By: Ramrod39

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 05:15 AM

So I want a bottle with a vent on the top and a "recovery' type cap. The bottle I was looking at (the one that might fit) is 20oz capacity. I worry that a full to the brim radiator will discharge more than 20 oz and spit coolant out the vent. Valid concern?

Also not sure about my cap. I ran the car with a Stant lever cap (model 331) and when I shut it down a bunch of coolant puked out but the upper radiator hose was not hard (no pressure) Maybe it had relieved the pressure before I squeezed the hose? Not sure.

Posted By: Jeremiah

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 05:36 AM

There are some reasonable aluminum units at summit racing. I just use mine as a puke tank in case of overheating...

Posted By: Keith Black®

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/17/11 09:50 PM

... mounting above/below radiator cap height ok...?

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/18/11 01:11 AM

Quote:

So I want a bottle with a vent on the top and a "recovery' type cap. The bottle I was looking at (the one that might fit) is 20oz capacity. I worry that a full to the brim radiator will discharge more than 20 oz and spit coolant out the vent. Valid concern?

Also not sure about my cap. I ran the car with a Stant lever cap (model 331) and when I shut it down a bunch of coolant puked out but the upper radiator hose was not hard (no pressure) Maybe it had relieved the pressure before I squeezed the hose? Not sure.

20oz capacity is plenty. Only a high-schooler pukes more than that.
Caps vary in pressure...around 7 pounds is light, around 15 pounds is 'heavy'. Higher pressure raises the boiling point, but it also stress-tests the radiator more.
Again---you want the cap with the button, you can get the lever too.
MOST caps nowadays ARE coolant recovery, with the button.

On my 70'cuda I am using the windshield washer bottle as the coolant tank--works perfect.

Posted By: jjl

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/18/11 01:14 AM

magnum beer can?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/18/11 02:09 AM

Quote:

... mounting above/below radiator cap height ok...?

Any location (height) will work good.

Posted By: cudaboone

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/18/11 01:15 PM

I have a small aluminum round catch can and it has never returned any coolant to the radiator.. I have the hose going from the top of the radiator to the bottom of the can and a hose from the top of the can down to the bottom of the rad support. It is a b cool radiator with the b cool radiator cap.

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: Coolant catch cans/recovery systems....School me - 05/18/11 06:30 PM

The key to recovery is the cap, recovery systems use a cap with a "dangling disc" center valve while the standard system has a valve that is spring-loaded. Also, the cap gasket must seal tight against the neck or there won't be enough vacuum to recover the fluid.