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KEEPING YOUR HEALEY RUNNING COOL.......

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Well said, Bob.

Tim
 
Yes, Roger. Don't refill unless you are at the level of the top of the fins. We have enough things to get paranoid (anal) about on a Healey.
I use Water Weterer (sp?) and 50/50 coolant. Original type sleeved cap with original fan. Original radiator but re-cored to original over 12 years ago. No problems with over heating or over flow. Can go to 200 degrees if standing in traffic in hot temps in places like Sacramento or Reno but cools fast with movement to 165. I run at 18 degrees BTDC and I think that helps.
But I've got other issues to be paranoid about on my BJ8.
 
Bob_Spidell said:
This will probably start a debate, but this discussion got me thinking ...

All modern cooling systems--since probably around 1970 or so--have little to no header tank (some have small tanks on the side). With not much of a header tank to handle coolant expansion, an overflow/recovery system is mandatory. Also, the cooling system (radiator) on even some modern cars seems minimal. I suspect this was done to a) save some space and allow for greatly sloped hoods and b) save money on brass and/or aluminum (most of the header tanks are plastic now). Since Healeys have a large header tank IMO no recovery system is needed as long as you fill to the proper level (or let the system find its own level, as some of us apparently do). IOW, a coolant capture/recovery system is just doing the job a header tank used to do.

....
Click to expand...

Points well taken. I had a TR4A at one time and a overflow/recovery tank was absolutely manditory as the radiator fill wasn't the high point in the system; the thermostat housing was. With no o/r tank the system would empty itself until there was no coolant flow. Addition of the o/r tank and learning how to fill the system completely made all the difference in the world.
 
My folks' 2000 Lincoln LS's cooling system gets filled on the top of the block and the system--including the heater--has to be 'bled.' Also, the overflow/recovery tank is called the 'degas' tank ('overflow' might have negative connotations, I suppose).
 
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