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C50 coolant level

D

Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
A couple questions this AM for the brain (t)rust! I have this truck ready to go back to work but I am not sure what level to put the coolant at. There is no overflow reservoir on the 1972 truck, extra coolant just drips out the tube onto the ground. So there are two large hoses. One goes from radiator to pump, this is the lower hose. The other is at the top of the radiator and I honestly do not recall where it goes, but I did not disconnect...so not the pump. I am going under the assumption that the lower hose supplies the pump which then distributes it to the engine via the other hoses on the pump. I am also going on the assumption that the other (top) hose returns the coolant to the radiator, it falls down thru and gets cooled. My goal is to fill the radiator just enough to allow for expansion of hot coolant and drip as little as possible onto the ground. Any recommendations on how high to fill it cold?
 
Cover the core (look into the cap hole) with an inch of coolant. Or better yet, purchase an inexpensive coolant recovery tank and fill the radiator full! Jim
one kit
 
depending on the top tank size I would say between 1/2 to 1 in below the neck , its better at first to be a little low to let the air out of the system and not get an air lock , run it while filling it , then drive it , slowly remove the cap and recheck it
 
I'm thinking even more inexpensive than that...an old bleach jug and some baling wire. Once it finds a level I will take it off and record that level on my service record sheet. Thanks for the idea!
 
If the radiator is not full, it has air in it. I would add a coolant recovery tank and fill the radiator.
 
If you add a coolant recovery tank, you also would want to
make sure it has a closed system radiator cap.
 
Cold coolant level should be just above the radiator tubes.

You used to be able to buy aftermarket coolant recovery tanks, but why bother?

The upper radiator hose is connected to the thermostat housing. Water circulates from pump directly into the engine block, heads, manifold and out through the thermostat. Any smaller hoses are for the heater, thermostat bypass and possibly an aftermarket tank heater.
 
The kits are cheap, and allow the top tank to be full all the time. An advantage over original. The bleach bottle lid could be drilled for a hose fit and left in place. Jim
 
His radiator will have tanks on both sides.look on the ribs on the fill cap side seems like its stamped engine side to see but will have like hot full just below filler cap and about 2 or 3 ribs down it will say full cold.the c 50 series had cross flow radiators not top and bottom tanks
Id say cold 3 inches below filler cap
 
Like said, keep it down a couple inches.

But on initial start up, let it run until the thermostat opens and the upper hose is flowing hot coolant.

There may be air trapped, once the stat opens, it will come out, the level may surge then drop. Once stable, top it to a couple inches down.
 
> ...the c 50 series had cross flow radiators not top and bottom tanks...

Ah, now the question makes more sense. And adding a coolant recovery tank to a cross flow radiator makes sense.
 
I used a prestone jug hung from the rad support rods on an early 70's JEEP CJ.
You could use any jug and hang it by the handle.
Poke a hole near the jug cap but not thru the cap for the overflow tube.

That way you can add/check fluid without messing with the tube.
 
(quoted from post at 00:21:26 08/22/19) His radiator will have tanks on both sides.look on the ribs on the fill cap side seems like its stamped engine side to see but will have like hot full just below filler cap and about 2 or 3 ribs down it will say full cold.the c 50 series had cross flow radiators not top and bottom tanks
Id say cold 3 inches below filler cap
Click to expand...

Whut he said its just the way it is...
 
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