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radiator overflow

Last post 10-26-2008, 11:05 PM by trev0006. 7 replies.
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  •  09-12-2008, 5:15 PM 16277

    radiator overflow

    Hi all.

    My 66B tends to lose water after a 30-50 mile drive. When I park, the over flow spills water on the driveway.  The car runs b/w 160 and 195 degrees.  I have had the radiator serviced, water new pump, 7 lb cap and I believe a 160' thermostat.  What temp do these cars typically run at and what can I do to prevent the lose of coolant?  Is this typical?

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    Matt

  •  09-13-2008, 9:12 AM 16282 in reply to 16277

    Re: radiator overflow

    Matt,

    If you don't have an overflow recovery system and you fill the radiator up you will always lose water. The water expands and pushes past the cap. It is unstoppable. A 7 pound cap is kind of low. You can go to a twelve with no real problem, but do consider adding a recovery system with a recovery style cap so that the expanding coolant will be drawn back into the system once the engine cools. This way, the system is always completely full. Also, you won't be leaving antifreeze on the pavement. The 160 thermostat may open sooner, but it won't actually lower the temperature at which your car will run. That is determined by many other conditions. The actual purpose of the thermostat is to warm your car up more quickly, and a lower temperature thermostat may actually delay that. It depends on your local climate. It is a common misconception that the purpose of a thermostat is to keep your car cool by opening at the right time. It's function is, as stated, to warm your engine up and to then take itself out of play(depending on ambient temp.) except to act as a restricted opening in the system to cause the coolant to flow at the most efficient rate.

    Oh yeah, your car is running at typical temperatures, except that the lower one you mention is a tad low for good wear and efficiency. I'd try a 180 thermostat.

     


    Motorbill
    From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon
  •  09-13-2008, 9:42 AM 16284 in reply to 16282

    Re: radiator overflow

    Just to echo motorbill's comment, this is normal. I was surprised that my system overflowed after refilling the first time - and of course being new to this, I really tried to make sure it was full to the brim... However, if one thinks about it, this overspill is inevitable.

     Cheers,

    Ed

     


    I want my MGB
  •  09-23-2008, 6:07 PM 16397 in reply to 16282

    Re: radiator overflow

    Thanks Bill for clarifying this issue.  If you do not mind, I have anothe question for you.  After running the car on the road at full running temp. the idle drops from about 1200 down below 1000 at the stop light and then when I pess the clutch is almost dies.  Do you think I have a carb or timing problem, or other issue?

     

    thank you,

    Matt

  •  09-23-2008, 10:09 PM 16398 in reply to 16397

    Re: radiator overflow

    Matt,

    The idle speed change after warm-up is pretty normal. Oil viscosity changes, running clearances change, and even the mixture will respond to different temperatures of operation. Generally, we warm a car up thoroughly and then tune it. An early B, depending on its condition, is one we try to get to idle at just under a thousand RPM or so, consistent with smoothness.

    What worries me more in the case of your car is that when you depress the clutch the engine almost stalls. Now, there are many possibilities here, but if the mixture and timing are correct, and the carburetters are in good repair, this should not happen. I'm wondering how long you've had this car and what you know about its mechanical history. When the idle drops dramatically upon declutching, as in your case, it can indicate that there is an awful lot of mechanical drag being introduced. Possible causes are a bad release bearing worn down into the cast iron holder, or a bad input shaft bearing or spigot bearing. Is there any noise or sound difference accompaning this drop in RPM? Let's not panic. It may be nothing of consequence. But, let's look into it.


    Motorbill
    From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon
  •  09-30-2008, 8:04 PM 16491 in reply to 16284

    Re: radiator overflow

    Aloha Ed,

    I had the same experience you did.  I just purchased a 66 B.  Worse than the radiator experience was when I filled up the gas tank all the way and parked the car in front of my house in the hot sun.  I learned my lesson on that one...gas leaking out at the gas cap because of expansion... 

    Aloha,

    RobMGB66

  •  10-03-2008, 12:28 AM 16515 in reply to 16491

    Re: radiator overflow

    RobMGB66

    Funny you should mention filling the tank. I haven't had it overflow, but the location and orientation of the filler neck makes this a tricky task on the 'B. This is aside from the dificulty of facing up to the fact that one needss to shell out for petrol in the first place. Add to this the modern petrol pumps with a vapour recovery system - you're practically holding them upside-down to convince them to run...

     Ed


    I want my MGB
  •  10-26-2008, 11:05 PM 16807 in reply to 16515

    Re: radiator overflow

    A recovery tank is a good idea if you don't want to deal with issue. We are in Southern California and in the summer time we have to fill water after every drive. Its bad because the driveway can get nasty if you have coolant leaking and the smell is no picnic either.
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