Coolant Overflow

[7Dust]

There is a hole in my radiator neck under the cap where the coolant can expand and escape.

There is not a tube or reservoir of any kind to collect the coolant so it can return to the radiator as it cools.

Dumb questions - assuming I want an expansion tank:

is there a reason not to have an expansion tank?

How do I get a tube connected to that hole?

Braze a tube in?

Is there supposed to be a thread or friction fit tube?

How did the military do it?

OR Is coolant just supposed to leak on the ground so Soldier B can mindlessly top it off every now and then?

I’ve been Soldier B for the last 15 years or so.

 

[Mullaney]

There is a hole in my radiator neck under the cap where the coolant can expand and escape.

There is not a tube or reservoir of any kind to collect the coolant so it can return to the radiator as it cools.

Dumb questions - assuming I want an expansion tank:

is there a reason not to have an expansion tank?

How do I get a tube connected to that hole?

Braze a tube in?

Is there supposed to be a thread or friction fit tube?

How did the military do it?

OR Is coolant just supposed to leak on the ground so Soldier B can mindlessly top it off every now and then?

I’ve been Soldier B for the last 15 years or so.

.
My guess is that the solder joint that held the overflow tube in place - cracked and just was pulled off and thrown on the ground.
I don't know that I have ever seen an overflow box to collect the "spew".

Yes, I would think brazing would be the trick...

 

[chucky]

If you got 24 hrs J B WELD ive JB ed a few radiator necks back to radiators that held up good !

 

[NY Tom]

There is a hole in my radiator neck under the cap where the coolant can expand and escape.

There is not a tube or reservoir of any kind to collect the coolant so it can return to the radiator as it cools.

Dumb questions - assuming I want an expansion tank:

is there a reason not to have an expansion tank?

How do I get a tube connected to that hole?

Braze a tube in?

Is there supposed to be a thread or friction fit tube?

How did the military do it?

OR Is coolant just supposed to leak on the ground so Soldier B can mindlessly top it off every now and then?

I’ve been Soldier B for the last 15 years or so.

On my truck the tube joint to the radiator was cracked. We rebrazed it along with other areas that had come apart. Seems pretty common prblem on these deuce radiators.

It is maybe 1/4 OD and just fits in the neck there and it brazed in. The tube runs down the side of the radiator to let the coolant overflow out lower to the ground. I cannot recall how long it was at the moment. No tank.

 

[7Dust]

Well thereyago.

No recovery tank supplied or required.

It will self-level.

 

[HDN]

Well thereyago.

No recovery tank supplied or required.

It will self-level.

Agreed - even my 2002 1-ton GMC van has an overflow tube in the reservoir. It's connected to a hose that runs down the edge of the radiator where it can drain out any excess coolant to the road.

 

[fleetmech]

FWIW, you shouldn't be seeing coolant leaving that port outside of very unusual circumstances. Overflow/ recovery tanks didn't become a thing until the 80s in passenger cars.

During day to day operation, you shouldn't lose or have to add any coolant. If you're seeing frequent flow from the overflow line, either your radiator cap is bad, the engine is getting hot/ over pressurized (extremely hard work or a failed head gasket) or your overfilling.