There is never any coolant in my reservoir. The only time there is, is when I lift the cap pressure release. The coolant then rushes into the reservoir. Is the spring on my radiator cap too stout? My car never even reaches 200*, even when I'm racing the sh*t out of it.

 

Your supposed to fill it to the 'low' mark after filling the radiator. If you notice the level dropping in the overflow bottle there's a coolant leak somewhere.

 

The "reservoir" is not an extra coolant container, but rather a container where the excess from the radiator (upon reaching operating temp) goes. Once the coolant is heated up, it expands, so if you had no overfill "reservoir" your coolant system would blow up (depending on the condition of the parts). All radiators (that I've seen) have an overfill tube to let out build up volume at a certain pressure. So having said that, your "reservoir" should not be full, yes it can be low, but typically empty to catch excess coolant.

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George P. Lara
1984 "L69 A4"
Soon to be 357, T5, 3.70
1994 LT1 M6
SCCA, SCFB, SC3GFB

 

True Mr.Z, but if you keep your reservoir full to the cold mark, then when you pop the hood you can tell at a glance how your cooling system is doing. Also, if there is no coolant in the reservoir when hot, you are definitely underfilled.
...ed

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Ed Maher - Moderator @ The Carb Board
92 Z28 Convertible - Quasar blue / Tan top
LB9 4L60 GU2 G80 - stock, soon to be sleeper
-=ICON Motorsports=-

- Definitely prototypes, high powered mutants of some kind. Too weird to live, too cool to die