After Market Radiators & Cap - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

GunNam · 10-04-2002, 10:56 AM

I have a C&R Racing Radiator with it's higher than stock pressure cap. Could this be causing unwanted pressure and therefore cause my upper hose (hose that brings coolant to the radiator) to bulge? or should I be looking for other culprits?

Can this be head gasket related?

Nikolai · 10-04-2002, 03:23 PM

I don't understand the problem.............Is it that the hose is bulging and you're trying to figure out why?

Old hoses do that before they break.............ahh, the joys of elastic failure. In other words, if it were your your engine in the same situation, it wouldn't bulge, it would just crack!

Try replacing the hose.....the hose should bulge a little when the water heats up and the pressure in the radiator builds some.

NIck

GunNam · 10-04-2002, 03:42 PM

I had this problem with my old hose, so I replaced it with an OEM Honda hose. The problem still persists. So yes, I am still trying to find out what is causing the pressure, hence the bulging upper radiator hose.

CRXtc · 10-04-2002, 03:45 PM

swap it with a steel braided hose, or a different performance hose (one that is made a lot stiffer), because that higher pressure is your culprit

GunNam · 10-06-2002, 11:18 PM

Hey CRXtc, is you believe that the higher pressure with this C&R is the culprit?

Do you know of any tests so I don't blow money on steel braided hoses and have those ruined?

I want to know what is causing the problem, but if the higher pressure is the culprit, I see how steel braided hoses would aid in this process.

Anyone know where I can buy these hoses (with a warranty hopefully?)

GunNam · 10-06-2002, 11:21 PM

Hey I forgot to mention this little fact. If the pressure is the culprit, it is only affecting the upper hose, so the hose that circulates coolant TO the radiator. The lower hose, that directs coolant to the engine has not been affected by this higher pressure.

Nikolai · 10-07-2002, 11:56 AM

Well,

I do know that your radiator cap is set at a safe .8-1.2 bars above atmospheric, which allows a higher boiling point within the cooling system, and thus a higher convective heat transfer coefficient. If this cap is not letting water boil out of your overflow container, then you have nothing to worry about.

In other words, if the pressure seen is not enough to trigger the safety devices present in your OEM cooling system, then the pressure of the system is not excessive, and you are just seeing normal expansion due to operating system pressure. If you are truly concerned, find a shop that has one of those pressure gauges that will connect where your radiator cap should. I honestly think you have nothing to worry about, however.

Nick

GunNam · 10-08-2002, 02:00 AM

This hose is bulging to almost twice it's size where the upper hose connects to the engine block. I did some research... my c&r radiator cap (I have a c&r radiator) is set at 30psi. If you look at mugen's cap, it's set at 18.5 and the spoon at around 18psi.

I'm gonna try to find an old OEM cap and replace the hose again and see what happens.

Stripes777 · 10-08-2002, 02:21 AM

after your last reply, its got to be your pressure cap for sure. 30 compared to stock is like almost doubled. i have heard people having trouble with spoon or blitz caps. imagine how much trouble the cooling pressure would have with an extra 12 pounds... plus street cars dont need such high pressure caps. plus, u got a bigger redaiator now, thats plenty enough!

CRXtc · 10-08-2002, 08:32 AM

like i said....steel braided hose or get the spoon hose.............

GunNam · 10-10-2002, 10:45 PM

I thought about steel braided hosing... but the GReddy one is just a stock radiator hose with steel braiding around it... so I thought that was kinda... "not straight."

And the spoon is just crazy expensive... I'm gonna try to find my old cap and replace the hose and see what happens.....

Thanks for the help... it's usually more experienced peoples advice that gives me the go-ahead to try something on my car.... I don't like mistakes.