Coolant loss - overflow only

[rick_ingram]

The radiator on the 1974 MGB/GT is requiring coolant rplenishment on a regular basis.

There is a definite coolant loss from the overflow tube...no leaks visibile in the radiator or hoses. The gauge is NOT registering an abnormal operating temperature.

The thermostat is a 180* and is operating fine. The cap is a 13#.

Noticed on one refill that the coolant was foaming in the radiator.

Is this indicative of a head gasket failure?

Thanks in advance!

 

[fleshy1]

Is your coolant sludgy? Then it could be a head gasket.

Have you tried testing the rad. cap? Maybe it no longer holds pressure. That rad cap seems kinda low lbs. wise. I thought stock was 15 lbs.

 

[jlaird]

Might want to replace the radiator cap.

 

[Kimberly]

Are you overfilling the cooling system? How much coolant are you adding and how often?

 

[rick_ingram]

Greetings!

This is on "The Duct Tape Special", the GT that my rallye partner, aRick Verhey, and I rallye in. (So it's not my car.) Over the weekend, from the time that aRick left Grand Rapids, MI to pick me up to the time we returned to my house post-rallye, we had used nearly a gallon of antifreeze mix. That would be in about 1500 miles. The temp gauge registered normal most of the time, and even when "hot" was only about a needle's width above the "N". (Normal for this car is generally 2 needles below "N".)

The foaming could be considered frothing....many, many bubbles. We had considered using some Barz StopLeak...but this in my mind, is only a temporary band-aid, and can give a false sense of security.

Thanks for all of the input...I'll pass it on to aRick.

bRick
TwoRickRacin'