Overheating?

[MikeS.]

I've noticed on my 66 motorhome that I have coolant dripping from the overflow tube after driving it. This is normal, right?

It would make sense thus the tube. I don't have an overflow container, yet.

After driving a total of about 400 miles it was down about 5 quarts. Is that normal?

I took it on a 140 mile round trip Saturday, I forgot to check the coolant level before I started off. I did remember to check at the half way mark, fortunately. I had gone to a cruise-in. So she sat for a couple hours and cooled off.

I did check the oil before I drove off from home. I need to get back in the habit of checking fluid levels more often.
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[MikeS.]

Ohh and the temp. gauge doesn't work...
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[corvettejim1968]

my 1st thought was maybe you need a new cap. and possibly replace the thermostat. these two items don't cost much.

[61_FL_Apache]

These rads do seem to hold a lot of water.. 5qts low does seem like a lot.. I would look into a overflow bottle of some kind, that way the system can recover the water when it cools down.

...and get that temp gauge working!

[corvettejim1968]

here is my overflow bottle.

[Rich 5150 69]

Can you get a pic of the radiator, do you have a shroud on it most of all, 5 quarts is a lot, no overflow will hold that much, you might have a rad to small or it needs recoring, and a t-stat and cap is due. You can get the correct sender for the temp gauge at truck and car shop...

[jayoldschool]

I have the exact same overflow bottle on my 65 Impala as corvettejim's. However I have no overflow bottle on my 71 Pontiac and it never pukes any coolant, and I have used it on 700 mile road trips with no issue. I would suspect your rad cap first. Get that temp gauge fixed, too. Even if you need to swap the sender for the light one and put in a temp light to warn you.

[MikeS.]

Ok new cap and thermostat bought. New cap is on, new thermostat I'll get installed this week. I'm trying to find a recovery bottle locally.

I'll work on the temp gauge as well.

Thanks guys.
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[MikeS.]

Found a recovery system, now have it installed as well. I'll drive it some this week and see what happens.
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[1964Chevy]

I have a question that applies here. I installed a 3 row aluminum rad, the original one was seeping and leaking. I have an electric fan installed. The temp runs up to 215, the thermostat (190 degree) opens and the temp drops to 180, rises to 195 and the fan comes on, then settles at 190 for the duration. My question is this. There is a lot of pressure in the system, the upper hose is tight with pressure. The unlisted rad cap is hard to compress the spring so I installed my old 16 psi cap, but the pressure still builds. I bought a 180 thermo today and am going out to install it right now. is it normal for the hoses to be tight with pressure when the engine is hot?
Thanks in advance.

[jayoldschool]

Check your bottom hose to make sure it is not collapsing under pressure.

[MARTYZ]

1964CHEVY, sounds like your cooling system is doing its job normally, and yes you will have pressure on hoses when warm. Purpose of the cap no pressure water will be boiling, pressure raises the boiling temp of coolant.

[1964Chevy]

Thanks for the response guys. Bottom hose is tight too.
I just put a 180 thermostat in and ran it around, the temp never got over 190 and settled at 185. I can definately live with that. Yes there was still pressure. I read on this great web site that someone put in a new radiator and new cap and the pressure blew out the heater core. I am, or was worried about that.
Thanks again and I hope everyone has a great night.