My radiator is loosing water through the overflow drain pipe. Any suggestions on what the problem is? My thinking is, radiator core blocked. The other question is, should I be using a coolant? Thank you.
Dave Young, Australia.
1932 Austin 10 Radiator Fluid Loss
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peter_winney
- Posts: 2293
- Joined: Wed Nov 20, 2019 3:31 pm
- Location: BATH
Re: 1932 Austin 10 Radiator Fluid Loss
Might be:
Overheating or Overfilling
Although it is not a pressurised system when it gets too hot and turns to steam the pressure blows out thru' the overflow pipe. Overheating can be caused by many things: blocked or damaged radiator, crud in the coolant, blockage in the bottom branch. Or just going up an Alpine Pass. I guess overheating is more likely in an Oz summer.
The header talk should not be filled - max approx 1 inch below the top or just enough to dip your finger in before starting. Main thing is to cover the top radiator gills (visible inside the filler on a chrom-rad) so that the fluid can circulate by thermo-syphon (hot water rising). The space in the header tank allows for the coolant to expand when hot.
To check for blockage suggest drain system and flush it thru' with a garden hose (NOT a pressure washer!)
Best coolant is de-ionised water (as sold for steam irons), traditional is rainwater (but can get contaminated in water butt). Anti-freeze in winter: use the classic poisonous stuff that is bad for the environment. Titled Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) In UK is blue colour. Do NOT use Organic OAT or HOAT in the Austin. In UK is orange. I believe US colour systems are different so in Oz you may find "blue yes, orange no" is an over-simplication.
IAT claims to require to be changed every year but in my experience that is not the case. When I used my '34 Ten as my sole motor car in London I only refreshed the coolant about every 3 to 4 years.
Dont bother with expensive non-water coolants. These are designed for working in pressurised systems.
PeterW
Overheating or Overfilling
Although it is not a pressurised system when it gets too hot and turns to steam the pressure blows out thru' the overflow pipe. Overheating can be caused by many things: blocked or damaged radiator, crud in the coolant, blockage in the bottom branch. Or just going up an Alpine Pass. I guess overheating is more likely in an Oz summer.
The header talk should not be filled - max approx 1 inch below the top or just enough to dip your finger in before starting. Main thing is to cover the top radiator gills (visible inside the filler on a chrom-rad) so that the fluid can circulate by thermo-syphon (hot water rising). The space in the header tank allows for the coolant to expand when hot.
To check for blockage suggest drain system and flush it thru' with a garden hose (NOT a pressure washer!)
Best coolant is de-ionised water (as sold for steam irons), traditional is rainwater (but can get contaminated in water butt). Anti-freeze in winter: use the classic poisonous stuff that is bad for the environment. Titled Inorganic Additive Technology (IAT) In UK is blue colour. Do NOT use Organic OAT or HOAT in the Austin. In UK is orange. I believe US colour systems are different so in Oz you may find "blue yes, orange no" is an over-simplication.
IAT claims to require to be changed every year but in my experience that is not the case. When I used my '34 Ten as my sole motor car in London I only refreshed the coolant about every 3 to 4 years.
Dont bother with expensive non-water coolants. These are designed for working in pressurised systems.
PeterW
Member since July 1972
Reconnaissance is seldom wasted
Reconnaissance is seldom wasted
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phil_taylor
- Posts: 843
- Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:49 am
- Location: Hampton Hill, Middlesex
Re: 1932 Austin 10 Radiator Fluid Loss
As Peter says - overheating or overfilling? I fill my 32 10 to 2" below the thread top of the filler - any more and it will come out of the overflow pipe as soon as the motor heats up. Only had a 10 overheat once in 57 years and over 360,000 miles. The temp in UK can get well over 80degrees C quite often and I have pulled a heavy trailer and full compliment of passengers. It is possible for the core to be partially obstructed but this would be a slowly developing problem. Even when I have found loads of sediment in the bottom tank, it still does not boil. I know nothing about coolants, or antifreeze, as I do not use either.
Hope you get it sorted. Happy New Year.
Cheers
Hope you get it sorted. Happy New Year.
Cheers
Re: 1932 Austin 10 Radiator Fluid Loss
Thanks for the advice Peter and Phil
Will give it a flush and see where that leads.
My daughter has just flown out of Heathrow back to Oz to the heat with her family after a holiday in Europe and the UK. There was light snow when they left.
The Fifth Test in Sydney is at an interesting stage with the Root, Head and Smith centuries! Australia seems to be on top at the moment.
Kind regards
Dave
Will give it a flush and see where that leads.
My daughter has just flown out of Heathrow back to Oz to the heat with her family after a holiday in Europe and the UK. There was light snow when they left.
The Fifth Test in Sydney is at an interesting stage with the Root, Head and Smith centuries! Australia seems to be on top at the moment.
Kind regards
Dave