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Radiator Cap Question

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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 07:55 PM
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Radiator Cap Question

My strut bar was hitting the one on then engine while I was at my last drift event.

So I was wondering, can the cap on the rad be switched with the one on the engine?
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:26 PM
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I take it you have one of the weird S4s with two radiator caps, or an aftermarket radiator? They should all be the same 13 lb. caps.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:33 PM
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You may find this helpful:

http://www.nopistons.com/forums/topi...ooling-system/

I have no experience with S4's, but from reading that it seems the cap on the T-Stat area is just a filler cap and not a pressure rated radiator cap. Therefore it may cause problems if switched to the radiator since it will allow the radiator to overflow 24/7.

You may have a pressurized cap (has a spring on it) on the engine side and not the original mazda "cap" (no spring loaded) which may make it bulkier, but nothing wrong with this....
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by RotaryRocket88
I take it you have one of the weird S4s with two radiator caps, or an aftermarket radiator? They should all be the same 13 lb. caps.
Stock rad. Stock caps.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by jjcobm
You may find this helpful:

http://www.nopistons.com/forums/topi...ooling-system/

I have no experience with S4's, but from reading that it seems the cap on the T-Stat area is just a filler cap and not a pressure rated radiator cap. Therefore it may cause problems if switched to the radiator since it will allow the radiator to overflow 24/7.

You may have a pressurized cap (has a spring on it) on the engine side and not the original mazda "cap" (no spring loaded) which may make it bulkier, but nothing wrong with this....
Yeah my old one went (oem mazda) and they gave me a replacement that was bulkier.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:44 PM
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What's the deal with aftermarket caps?
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:51 PM
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You need either a O.E. cap for the engine side or an aftermarket cap that doesn't have a spring to relief pressure (shouldn't be as tall). I suspect you have the latter right now? I don't think anyone besides mazda and mazda suppliers can give you the proper cap but I haven't looked...
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 12:26 AM
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Ok I think I understand. But would switching caps work?
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 12:43 AM
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Originally Posted by K!NCH
Ok I think I understand. But would switching caps work?
Is there a true radiator cap in both locations? If so yes. If not no.

You can use a radiator cap as a fill cap in a pinch, but not the fill cap as a radiator.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by K!NCH
Ok I think I understand. But would switching caps work?
The info is above in my detailed explanation I quoted it at the bottom here

Originally Posted by jjcobm
I have no experience with S4's, but from reading that it seems the cap on the T-Stat area is just a filler cap and not a pressure rated radiator cap. Therefore it may cause problems if switched to the radiator since it will allow the radiator to overflow 24/7.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 05:36 PM
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Alright, I understand now. Guess I'll need to find a way to raise the bar or get a thinner cap.
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