Engine Coolant boiling Noises in the Tank

@panteradoug posted:

I am presuming that you have pressure tested the cap and verified you have the correct one for your tank. There is the possibility that you have the wrong cap and/or the cap will not hold pressure

Gary Hall used to tell me that some cars he serviced needed to be held up in the back and almost literally stood on their nose to get the air out.

I bought a Stant pressure tester kit and found that in pressure testing the system, it would make it sound like it was boiling because it was forcing the trapped air out.

Incidentally it doesn't matter if the cap is brand new. You need test it right out of the box. To me it looks like there is a failure rate of around 1/3 brand new or more correctly stated, bad right out of the box.

You also need to have the temperature sender in the engine block and not in the swirl tank.

Thanks, it is a brand new cap from a US Pantera vendor and it holds pressure. When I open it and the engine is warmed up it releases air, but of course I don't know how much pressure it holds exactly.

@panterapatt posted:

Agreed David.  Does this kit fit the water neck on our Panteras?  I see this kit which is a sheet load more expensive has a lot of adapters I will never use!  

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-7...&sr=8-4&th=1

thanks, Lee

I bought the kit with all of the different adapters, which now allows me to use it on all of my vehicles. Pulling a vacuum on the coolant system before filling it is the way to go. That kit can also be used to put pressure on your system which will allow you to check for leaks. In my opinion, if you own a Pantera, then this a tool that you should have.

@Seethaler posted:

Thanks, it is a brand new cap from a US Pantera vendor and it holds pressure. When I open it and the engine is warmed up it releases air, but of course I don't know how much pressure it holds exactly.

A pressure testing kit will allow you to check it's capacity. You want 15 psi which likely it is not. Probably 12 psi.

I agree with JFFR as an "essential Pantera tool" but in all honesty the availability of these affordable kits is a relatively new development.

They just make the coolant level a non-issue instead of an epic trial of courage previously.

Just change the cap you'll be fine. Water boils at 212 as you know. Every cap 'gives' you pound  you 3 degrees above 212 before overheat/boil over. For example a 1 pound cap gives you an additional 3 degrees. 15 pound cap= 45 degrees above 212, that gives you 257 degree coolant before you get into trouble. This is why guys get scalded so badly, 257 immediately explodes in the atmosphere to instant 212. Anyway, fill it. bleed it recap it with a vendor supplied car or a correct one you'll be fine.  Air is getting in. the water is stuck at 212 and that won't work.

If that doesn't do it you need a new tank. There are two mating surfaces there that must remain true.

I would think if the cap and neck were not sealing there would be coolant escaping during normal operation.

Replace the cap & tank it solves the problem 8 out of 10 times. That is unless someone has torched the head gasket or it was installed improperly.

You guys were absolutely right! Today I made some fittings to pressure test my cooling system with the pressure cap installed. And surprisingly it did not hold pressure, and I mean it did hold absolutely zero pressure! I purchased the expansion tank cap at a well known dealer - who by the way sold me the completely wrong t-stat as well! You got to be kidding me - I buy at a specialized Pantera dealer and get 2 products that are not correct. Very frustrating!

And yes, the tank is o.k - I mounted the old cap and  this one holds pressure as it should be!

Thanks for all the help!

Oh gosh, not sure who that 'specialized Dealer' was, not asking, but for sure the wrong parts did ~not~ come from Pantera Miami!

Please tell us which vendor sold you the wrong parts. We all need to know who NOT to deal with or refer people to.

Buy your new thermostat from T. Meyer.  Then you’re assured to have the right one. If you still have the European neck on your pressure tank, just buy a new cap with a pressure rating about 10 lbs higher than what you need. Now would be a good time to take the tank to a rad shop and have the correct filler neck installed. The overflow tank should have a zero pressure cap. Perhaps your caps simply got reversed.

Exactly right.  The community needs to know who is selling such Sxxx to people.  I guess they think we are stupid or something.  

Thanks, and no, the caps were not reversed - I bought both caps from the vendor, they are totally different. The new one not holding any pressure is rated for 16 PSI.
And it's not from Pantera Miami :-)

For those who were asking about the vendor - PMs sent :-)

Hi just reading through this thread, would you kindly pm me the vendors who supplied the incorrect parts please as I am having similar problems and my system is all new. Thanks in anticipation R

PM sent

PM sent!

@davidnunn posted:

Please tell us which vendor sold you the wrong parts. We all need to know who NOT to deal with or refer people to.

Buy your new thermostat from T. Meyer.  Then you’re assured to have the right one. If you still have the European neck on your pressure tank, just buy a new cap with a pressure rating about 10 lbs higher than what you need. Now would be a good time to take the tank to a rad shop and have the correct filler neck installed. The overflow tank should have a zero pressure cap. Perhaps your caps simply got reversed.

Why not just buy a Euro Cap? Maybe Jag or Fiat?