DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2000, Message #52

In a message dated 3/2/2000 10:15:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
rogers_landis@hotmail.com writes:

<< The other place is at the tank that the radiator cap fits into. The cap 
doesn't appear to fit very well.  It is as if the neck is longer than the cap 
is tall.  Steam pores out of it around the cap.  The sealing surface looks 
fine. >>


I can give you some quick triage - but you better wait for the pros to answer 
all of your questions. The stock Pantera pressure (swirl) tank has a European 
neck which is different from an American neck. What you described is exactly 
what will happen if you put an American cap on a European neck since the 
European neck is indeed deeper than the American neck. You either need to 
find a stock Pantera cap, replace the neck on your tank with and American one 
or replace the whole tank with one from a vendor. If you get a new tank from 
a vendor make sure it has an American neck and not stock one. Also - the 
"other" overflow (expansion) tank should use a cap without the valve seal in 
it, i.e. a plain cap. This tank is where you should check your coolant level 
and it should always have some coolant in it. Engine heats up - pressure tank 
cap lifts - coolant goes into overflow tank. Engine cools, vacuum in pressure 
tank sucks coolant back from overflow tank into the system. Actually the 
number of times you open the pressure tank should be minimal - any checking 
for level should be done at the overflow tank. If the overflow tank is empty 
- when the engine cools off, it will suck air back into the system and that's 
a no-no. Hope I didn't make this any more confusing that I usually make 
things!! ruffscruff (aka fran dicarlo - lovin' 03766 - CT Plate = BYE = for 
sale)