A stock TR3 is supposed to have a stock 4 psi radiator cap. If yours is
lifting at 1 or 2 psi because the spring is weak, that may be the problem.
Try a new radiator cap.
Water is better than a 50/50 antifreeze mix for heat transfer but Water
Wetter will help even more, according to the ads.
Water boils at 212 F at 14.7 psi at sea level. A 4 psi radiator cap boosts
the absolute pressure to 18.4 psi. and the water will boil at a much higher
temperature.
It may be that you are going so fast now that you're getting more bugs in
your rad. Or are the fins starting to spread away from the tubes ? If the
rad was over-pressurized sometime earlier, then the tubes may have become
swollen from the over-pressure (like if a head gastket blew) and maybe the
fins are no longer in good contact with the tubes.
I assume you are running an oil cooler. I've heard it said that cooler oil
will keep the engine cooler, so will also help keep the water cooler too.
Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A, Montreal, Canada
----- Original Message -----
From: "rgk" <rgk@flash.net>
To: "Russ Moore" <rem@cbord.com>; "'Larry Young'" <cartravel@pobox.com>;
<fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: Head Sealing Problem?
> Larry,
> I don't know what the norm is, and I hope others that do pipe up, but I
> can't do a 20 minute race running balls to the wall without reaching 220
> degrees. This alone may be putting water in the bottle and it has become
> something I have gotten used to. I have tried the gas-tester route, and
the
> radiator pressure tester and come up clean. With no exhaust to pump the
> water out, I believe it's simply the thermodynamics of water pressure
> overcoming the cap. 15 minute races are perfect, but the heat is rising to
> the limit at the end. All I have to do is take my foot out of it for a few
> laps and it cools down to around 200. OTOH, I can't accept having to back
> off to cool it down anymore and losing places to guys I should beat, so
I'm
> going to get an aluminum radiator very soon. I think this may be the
> solution.
>
> Bob Kramer
> rgk@flash.net
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Russ Moore" <rem@cbord.com>
> To: "'Larry Young'" <cartravel@pobox.com>; <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 11:19 AM
> Subject: RE: Head Sealing Problem?
>
>
> > One of three things.
> > Not sealing at the head/cylinder area; not sealing at the base (figure 8
> > gaskets) or a fracture either in the head, block base or in a liner.
> >
> > Russ Moore
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-fot@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-fot@autox.team.net]On
> > Behalf Of Larry Young
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 12:05 PM
> > To: fot@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Head Sealing Problem?
> >
> >
> > I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my TR3 engine. Ever since
> > I rebuilt the engine, I've had a problem with it blowing water out into
> > the overflow bottle. In a 20 minute race, it will blow about a quart
> > into the overflow. It's also running hot. I'm not getting any water in
> > the oil. I'm running a solid copper head gasket and used a block sealer
> > after I installed the head. I also pressure tested the block and all
> > was fine. After the first race weekend, I checked for combustion leaks
> > into the radiator using a kit which has a dye in it. The dye is
> > supposed to change color if combustion gases are present in the cooling
> > system. I couldn't tell for sure whether it was changing color or not,
> > so I retorqued the head and treated it again with block sealer. I did
> > have to turn the nuts to get the torque back to 100 lb and one stud felt
> > a bit squishy, like it didn't want to tighten up. I gather from resent
> > posts, that this is abnormal. It continues to blow water out the
> > overflow. I think I've got a head gasket that leaks only under load,
> > i.e. race conditions. However, others I've talked to aren't so sure.
> > I'm thinking I need to pull the head to try and figure out what's going
> > on. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> > Thanks,
> > Larry Young
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