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what's a non-vented radiator cap?? by sqoach
Started on: 01-31-2001 05:01 PM
Replies: 12
Last post by: sqoach on 02-07-2001 01:04 PM
sqoach
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Report this Post01-31-2001 05:01 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sqoachSend a Private Message to sqoachDirect Link to This Post
this is the question i got from my local o'rielleys (sp?) store. they looked it up and couldn't find it for the fiero. so now what do i do? i know i need the non-vented one because a lot of you have told me that.
also, since i'm going to be messing with my water system again, do i need to fill the overflow tank to the full level when burping the system, or whenever? that seems like it would have too much coolant in the system.
i might have to let someone buy me a cap and send it to me.

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batboy
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Report this Post01-31-2001 05:48 PM Click Here to See the Profile for batboySend a Private Message to batboyDirect Link to This Post
Well...no radiator cap is "vented" but some have a little lever to release the pressure before removing the cap. You don't need this style. But, you do need a pressure cap (spring loaded) that will work with your overflow tank. Call a couple parts stores and get a part number for a Slant cap.

When burping your system, you need to add coolant to the thermostat housing in the rear (with the radiator cap off too). After it's all burped, you top off the radiator and add a little to the overflow tank.

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ray b
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Report this Post01-31-2001 06:59 PM Click Here to See the Profile for ray bSend a Private Message to ray bDirect Link to This Post
vented caps say vented on them next to 16LBS use only nonvented most dont say nonvented just say 16LBS on cap. I couldnt find lever cap that was nonvented. but could be out there. any parts store will have nonvented G M cap. ray
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Report this Post01-31-2001 07:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreDirect Link to This Post
The Stant book lists 10231 or 11231 cap for Fiero. The one you want is 10230 or 11230. Don't use LevRvent caps on Fiero. these often leak air into the system around the stem the vent lever connects to.

If you hold the 230 and 231 next to each other you'll see the dif right away. The check valve on 230 has a spring. 231's check vavle is loose. if you hold them seal side down the 231 valve will just hang there.

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sqoach
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Report this Post01-31-2001 08:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sqoachSend a Private Message to sqoachDirect Link to This Post
thanks for the info guys.
theorge, i noticed that also and i pointed that out to the guy working at the time. when i went back he gave me another cap (10229) and the little disc thing springs back. the only difference in this cap is the psi. it's 13lbs on the one i got. is that too low? the vented one i had purchased before was 16. is this gonna make a big difference?
i'll probably go back tomorrow, now that i have a part #.
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theogre
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Report this Post01-31-2001 11:36 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreDirect Link to This Post
You don't want a low pressure cap. There are a bunch of reasons for this. most all of them bad.
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sqoach
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Report this Post02-02-2001 01:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sqoachSend a Private Message to sqoachDirect Link to This Post
well, the 13lb cap worked for a while. i drove around quite a bit yesterday afternoon, then again last night and it did fine. i had to stop for gas, and when i did i checked my coolant level. it was doing just fine. hadn't gone up any that i could tell. then i started it up, (huge cloud of smoke from my exhaust. it was a little cold, but it was ridiculous the amount of smoke) and i drove home. not even a mile home and the temp goes up really fast. all the way up to the red mark as i drove up the driveway and shut it off. checked the coolant level and sure enough it had gone up, a lot. didn't overflow though.

low lb cap cause this? could 3 more lbs really make that much of a difference? 16 lb cap what i need?
i hope it isn't something really bad

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Phil
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Report this Post02-02-2001 03:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PhilSend a Private Message to PhilDirect Link to This Post
Huge cloud of smoke is not a good sign. I would do a compression check to see if you possibly have a head gasket leak. Such a leak could introduce "air" into your cooling system and cause coolant to go into the overflow bottle.

[This message has been edited by Phil (edited 02-02-2001).]

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theogre
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Report this Post02-03-2001 01:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for theogreClick Here to visit theogre's HomePageSend a Private Message to theogreDirect Link to This Post
This sounds allot like a popped head gasket kind of thing. Hopefully not a crack.
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Carrolles
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Report this Post02-05-2001 11:38 AM Click Here to See the Profile for CarrollesSend a Private Message to CarrollesDirect Link to This Post
The boiling point temperature varies by about 10 degrees F between 13 psi and 16 psi. The 13 psi cap will let the coolant boil thus overflow at a lower temp.
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sqoach
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Report this Post02-06-2001 03:51 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sqoachSend a Private Message to sqoachDirect Link to This Post
i knew it! it worked fine for a few days. today it blew. temp went up pretty fast and it overflowed. not very much cuz i got home before it got too bad.

guess i gotta check something else...

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Report this Post02-07-2001 08:05 AM Click Here to See the Profile for MotorheadSend a Private Message to MotorheadDirect Link to This Post
I wouldn't drive the car anymore untill you do a compression check. Overheating can crack the head if it isn't cracked already. You're probably going to find low compression on one or more cylinders. If you end up changing the head gasket be sure to have the head dye checked for cracks before re-installation.
I went through this same exercise when I bought my car year before last. Found three cracks around the valves.
Mike

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sqoach
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Report this Post02-07-2001 01:04 PM Click Here to See the Profile for sqoachSend a Private Message to sqoachDirect Link to This Post
i sure hope i don't have a cracked head. i did do a compression check not too long ago with this same problem occuring, and it didn't check out too bad. there was probably about a 15-20 difference between all of them.
i'm planning on doing a rebuild when it warms up enough for about a week. that doesn't happen very often around here, though. that's when i planned on checking for cracks or anything. and i'm planning on doing another compression check soon. thanks.
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