It seems I cannot find a radiator cap to fit my car, I was told the neck on my plastic radiator was worn so I installed a new radiator... I went thru 3 new caps and they all seem to leak??? Where can I get a good cap?

 

I just got one at autozone. 15.16 psi cap, no issues here.

 

I did too and the radiator also, does it feel kinda "loose" to you?... can you easly twist it and rock it back and forth while its on the radiator?

 

The first half turn is easy but the 2nd half turn I have to push down on it.

 

is it all stiff when it locks in on the 2nd turn?...mine is loose as a lot lizard

 

Its a spectra radiator im wondering if only there caps fit the radiator

 

Im not sure, I cant remember the name of mine but I just went into AZ and asked for a cheep one for my car, its what they gave me and works like a charm. I know it should be tight though, it has to be sealed up nicely to hold in that PSI till it wants to go into the overflow tank.

 

Hmmm, I tried one from Napa, AZ, and Advanced... napa and advanced sold the exact same one...autozones seemed better quality but they all leak.. I replaced the radiator because id been told it was worn out threads on the filler neck, but this new radiator is doin the same thing... is the outher resons for a radiator cap not being able to hold pressure and leak?

 

?? I cant think of any, I personally have never had a rad cap leak like that. You do mean its literly leaking out from arround the seal on the cap?

 

Yes leaking out from under the rad cap and flowing down the neck, replaced a radiator today because a mechanic tole me the theads were worn out on the last one but this brand new one is doing the same thing, If the system was over pressured wouldnt it flow to the coolant overflow insted of seep down the neck?

 

its not even heating up when It does it either It was at 190 when it did it, sometimes it will not leak until I turn the car off.

 

Lets say hypothetically this is a gasket leak and combustion gasses were comming into my coolant system, whould this be a symptom? leaking radiator cap? I would think it would fill the overflow before leaking out a cap but I could be wrong. Anyone have experience with this?

 

I checked out the rad cap that was currently on...it says 16V?? was i sold the wrong cap?

 

16v? 15-16psi is the cap needed. Im not sure what the V means. No matter how the cooling system is, be it bad or in good shape, any extra coolent that is pumped out will flow into the overflow tank. I had a bad heasd gasket back in the day and i was pumping out a good gallon of coolent into the overflow tank every 30 minuets. This was becasue the combustion gases pushed the coolent out.

 

Did you give the people who make the radiator a call? Try to get them to send you a cap or do something about their radiator. Good luck!

 

Come to fine out that 16V cap they sold me was for Astros, VW's and some Japanese cars. I put a new 16 PSI cap on it and I dont seem to see any coolant leak... This morning when I drove it on my way to school (1hr. Drive) It stayed at 180-195...I kep a close eye on it and it jumped straight from 180 to about 210 and stayed there for a few seconds and then pegged back down... on the way home from school it did the exact oppisite...stayed at 210 and pegged down to 180 for a few seconds 1 or 2 times within an hr. of highway driving....