What psi radiator cap should I use?
16 PSI
Most radiator pressure caps keep the system pressure at 16 PSI so the engine coolant can get considerably hotter without the fear that it will boil off. If there is no pressure in the cooling system, the coolant will boil off.
Can I use a higher psi radiator cap?
And the boiling point increases 2-3 degrees for each additional psi of pressure in the system. So the over-simplified answer to the tech quiz is that, yes, a higher pressure radiator cap can help prevent overheating.
What does a 15 psi radiator cap do to the boiling point of antifreeze?
The boiling point goes up 3° F for every pound of pressure (psi). A 15-psi radiator cap will raise the boiling point by 45° F.
What is the advantage of using pressure cap on the radiator?
A radiator cap keeps the cooling system pressured which raises the boiling point. For every pound of pressure in a closed cooling system you raise the boiling point by three degrees. At sea level, water boils at 212 degrees. By adding 16 pounds of pressure to the system you will raise the boiling point to 260 degrees.
What’s the new part number for radiator surge tank?
GM has changed the part number for the radiator surge tank cap on vehicles that came from the factory with Dex-Cool. The new cap is 18 PSI (RC87 – part number 25713160), the old one for many vehicles was 15 PSI (RC75 – part number 10296465).
What should the pressure radiator cap rating be?
Remember, none of the above running temperatures have anything to do with the cap rating. They are simply conditions of the cooling systems capability, the ambient air temperature, and air flow. Often customers will report their system boiling over at temperatures of 220 or lower and as explained above this isn’t possible.
What’s the boiling point of a 15 psi radiator?
A system with 15 psi cap will add 45 degrees for a final boiling point of 268 degrees. The real purpose of pressurizing is to give drivers a higher operating zone in case of extreme conditions. For example, let’s say your classic car normally runs at 180-190 and boiling is not a concern. Then on a hot day the temperature goes to 200-210.
What happens when you increase the pressure on the radiator?
The water will expand and create pressure. The boiling point of the water increases three degrees for every 1 psi the pressure goes up. If the pressure goes up 15 psi we add 45 degrees.