[joseph]

I was under the car, Mag RT, checking stuff, engine was cold and the lower radiator hose was all squeezed in, as it it had a strong vacuum to the point where it was almost flat, I let the car run for a minute to pressurize the cooling system and it finally looked like a hose (round).
What's up with that?
Isn't that gonna detroy the hose if it gets squeezed up and expands everytime the car cools down?

 

[Padre Dave]

I never noticed that before, but I just had my serpentine belt and both radiator hoses replaced as preventive maintenance, as I just went over 62,000 miles. Seemed a little weird to do that in a car 1.5 years old, but with the desert conditions, it seemed like the right thing to do.

 

[joseph]

It's time for you guys with a day off to check the lower hose after you get up and see if it's round or all squeezed up.
I've never seen that before on a car.

 

[fnkychkn]

pressure cap should not let vacuum build up in cooling system. either the cap is defective or the overflow is blocked.

 

[FloridaRT]

That is why most lower radiator hoses have a coiled spring inside them, to prevent collapse. I guess our hoses do not.

Bob

 

[bigjim]

That is why most lower radiator hoses have a coiled spring inside them, to prevent collapse. I guess our hoses do not.

Bob

The flow is reversed from what you expect on the Hemi. The UPPER hose has the spring. The lower is pressure to the rad.

 

[wbornio]

The flow is reversed from what you expect on the Hemi. The UPPER hose has the spring. The lower is pressure to the rad.

Nice lil triva tid bit that may come in handy one day! Thanks.

 

[joseph]

pressure cap should not let vacuum build up in cooling system. either the cap is defective or the overflow is blocked.

Any way to check if the overflow is blocked besides taking off the reservoir and flushing it? everything looks clean from the outside.
Any way to test the pressure cap, or should I just get a new one?

 

[fnkychkn]

Any way to check if the overflow is blocked besides taking off the reservoir and flushing it? everything looks clean from the outside.
Any way to test the pressure cap, or should I just get a new one?

there's a hose from the side of the filler neck that goes to the overflow part of the tank. this part of the tank is vented to the atmosphere. remove thehose from the filler neck and blow in it. some resistance may be felt from coolant in overflow but air should flow through.
to test pressure cap you'll need a cooling system pressure tester hooked up to a handheld vacuum pump.

 

[RandomAccess]

there's a hose from the side of the filler neck that goes to the overflow part of the tank. this part of the tank is vented to the atmosphere. remove thehose from the filler neck and blow in it. some resistance may be felt from coolant in overflow but air should flow through.
to test pressure cap you'll need a cooling system pressure tester hooked up to a handheld vacuum pump.

Might want to wipe it off before you blow into it... Don't want to go blind you know...

 

[GasGunR]

I bet you use that line all the time:doh:

Might want to wipe it off before you blow into it... Don't want to go blind you know...

 

[RandomAccess]

Roflmao!!

 

[joseph]

I bet you use that line all the time:doh:

RLMAO

 

[joseph]

I checked again today and the hose was fine, the engine was still a little warm, not completely cold as it was the first time.
I checked the overflow hose, it's clean and clear.
I will buy a new radiator cap just to be safe, do you know if I can get it at any auto parts store or is it a dealer item only?
I checked for the hose and it was a dealer item only.

 

[fnkychkn]

make sure the cap you buy has a relief pressure of 18 psi and a vacuum valve.

from FSM:

OPERATION

A vent valve in the center of the cap will remain shut as long as the cooling system is pressurized. As the coolant cools, it contracts and creates a vacuum in cooling system. This causes the vacuum valve to open and coolant in reserve/overflow tank to be drawn through connecting hose into radiator. If the vacuum valve is stuck shut, or overflow hose is kinked, radiator hoses will collapse on cool-down.

 

[aries4life]

I bet you use that line all the time:doh:

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaawned:

I needed that!

 

[joseph]

Good info, thanks.
I got this: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1430739,parttype,2068

I'll most likely get the Stant 10234 at Pepboys or Autozone, unless anyone thinks gates is better.