Leaky Pettit AST
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Leaky Pettit AST
Ok, I thought I had seen this topic before, but searching the forum didn't reveal any solutions...
I have the Pettit aluminum AST. When I first installed it I noticed that coolant would spew out from under the radiator cap. I changed to a 16 lb cap, and problem solved. For a while. Looks like I've still got the same thing happening, only less so.
I could just go get an 18 lb cap I guess, but I'm wondering if that's really the thing to do. It seems like the springy part of the cap seals off the hose that goes to the coolant reservoir, and too strong of a cap would mean that air would never go into the hose. That's what it looks like to me. Maybe I should seal the cap with silicone sealant and never open it? Anyone else had this problem?
I have the Pettit aluminum AST. When I first installed it I noticed that coolant would spew out from under the radiator cap. I changed to a 16 lb cap, and problem solved. For a while. Looks like I've still got the same thing happening, only less so.
I could just go get an 18 lb cap I guess, but I'm wondering if that's really the thing to do. It seems like the springy part of the cap seals off the hose that goes to the coolant reservoir, and too strong of a cap would mean that air would never go into the hose. That's what it looks like to me. Maybe I should seal the cap with silicone sealant and never open it? Anyone else had this problem?
What's your point ?
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Gainesville, Fla.
Leaking AST
I was thinking the same thing. The other thing to consider is why are you building up all this pressure and do you have an aftermarket temerature gauge ???? I've been working on mine trying to solve the overflow tank pushing out coolant when I stop the car. Well It turned out I have a seal problem and was loosing coolant wich allowed air into the system and then localized boiling within the motor causing it to run at elevated temerature levels. I did the block seal procedure mentioned on this forum and then put coolant back in after I felt it had worked. I'm back to running a 13 psi cap with no coolant push out of the cap or resivoir. I did discover that there was a differance with a vented and non-vented radiator cap. The vented one would allow coolant to exit the overflow with out any pressure on the system. I switched the vented for non-vented and I no longer loose any coolant and car only has the normal condensation burn off at start up. I'm getting ready to try a coolant addative by CRC that is supposed to be the equivilant of (Watter wetter) but cost $6.00 a quart. Hope there may be some helpful information in here for you. Later, Jack
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Well put the car up on ramps and took off the plastic shield on the bottom and checked out the coolant hose to the reservoir. One of the segments of the hose had come loose and any coolant that went through the line was getting dumped out. A no brainer once I got under the car... I think this happened when I was trying to route the silencer hose from the pettit intake and probably pushed on the coolant hose. A couple of hose clamps and some tie wraps fixed it. I might try going back to a 13lb (vented) cap now...
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