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PKRWUD · 11-24-2002, 08:53 PM

Radiator caps suck, in general, and really should be replaced every year as preventative maintenance, IMO. They cost less than $10, yet a bad one can and will cause blown head gaskets. I would never use a cap rated less than 16 pounds on an engine with any mods, because they will run hotter. The more pressure the cap can take, the better it will control the system. To a point. I install 18 pounders on the cars I work on, provided they can hold 20 pounds for 10 minutes on my tester.

Brass heater cores will almost always fail before an aluminum radiator will, so pressure checking the system really is important.

Also, keep in mind that the single item that is responsible for the accuracy of the cap is a metal spring, and the quickest way to vary the accuracy of anything metal is by repeated hot/cold cycles. This is why t-stats should be replaced more often, too, but nothing is as easy to replace as a radiator cap.

Take care,
~Chris

11-24-2002, 08:53 PM	#10
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Radiator caps suck, in general, and really should be replaced every year as preventative maintenance, IMO. They cost less than $10, yet a bad one can and will cause blown head gaskets. I would never use a cap rated less than 16 pounds on an engine with any mods, because they will run hotter. The more pressure the cap can take, the better it will control the system. To a point. I install 18 pounders on the cars I work on, provided they can hold 20 pounds for 10 minutes on my tester. Brass heater cores will almost always fail before an aluminum radiator will, so pressure checking the system really is important. Also, keep in mind that the single item that is responsible for the accuracy of the cap is a metal spring, and the quickest way to vary the accuracy of anything metal is by repeated hot/cold cycles. This is why t-stats should be replaced more often, too, but nothing is as easy to replace as a radiator cap. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!