My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: dodjh on August 04, 2012, 09:58:20 AM

Title: Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: dodjh on August 04, 2012, 09:58:20 AM

Does anyone know of an effcient way to recover anti-freeze and water from overflow from the radiator?

I remember doing something to a tractor I once had but the details of making it work escape me.

Thanks for any direction and advice!

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: athawk11 on August 04, 2012, 10:10:13 AM

dodjh,

If you look at a modern recovery on newer vehicle, you may be able to mimic the process.  It doesn't seem overly complex.  As long as these old radiators have some negative pressure at some point, you should be able to make it work.

Tim

Title: Re: �Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: Carls_jeep on August 04, 2012, 02:34:27 PM

Here's what your going to have to do. First you will have to get a radiator cap that is sealed on the outer diameter of the cap like the newer recovery systems have. Then you will have to put a recovery tank on the fender inner panel with the hose from the radiator overflow to the tank. �Now, if you can do that and guarantee that the radiator is sealed from outside air then the radiator can be filled to the very top of the neck and the cap put on. If nothing leaks outside of the cap the excess coolant will be transferred to the tank and of course the tank will have to be filled with some coolant before that so it has a reserve of fluid. Now, when the engine cools and you have the correct radiator cap (which may be hard to find for our low pressure systems) the coolant will be sucked back into the radiator and the radiator will still be full up to the neck.

Now, as far as I am concerned this is not a practical method for our Jeeps. They were not intended to be that way and IF you keep the fluid level about an inch or two above the cores when the system is cold you will never have a need for a holding tank. The cooling system and radiator is designed to allow room for expansion of the fluid and if your having trouble with it spitting out coolant then your over filling the radiator.

That is a blunt statement but that is the truth. Unless your engine temp is getting to the boiling point with a 4 to 7 psi cap you will never loose coolant IF THE RADIATOR IS NOT OVER FILLED.

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: dodjh on August 04, 2012, 08:40:10 PM

Carlsjeep & athawk11....Thank you for the feed back.  My radiator fluid is higher than you mentioned and I need to

lower it some.  I'm glad to hear that we don't need an over flow set up.

I need to buy a fan shroud for mine...it would help keep the air centered on the radiator.

I drove about 1000 feet w/o fan belt hooked up and it did over flow some.  When I replaced the alternator and

put the belt back on, I didn't have any problem....the temp. was about 180 degrees.

There are a lot of details involving something that seems simple to do.  I'm gratefull for the advice each of you

share!

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: Carls_jeep on August 04, 2012, 11:26:30 PM

Yes, you do need to put a fan shroud on it. That will help a lot to keep it running cooler.

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: dodjh on August 06, 2012, 11:25:50 PM

CarlsJeep....I agree...one more item on my,"To Buy," list.  Maybe I'll run across a CJ-3A to use as parts but it will

have the parts I need!

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: NoCoWillys on August 06, 2012, 11:32:52 PM

Jeeps are like boats, but instead of always looking for a bigger boat, we just keep getting more jeeps to add to our collections.  

Title: Re:  Overflow radiator reservoir
Post by: dodjh on August 07, 2012, 08:08:11 AM

Ditto's on that and long live the JEEP!