Higher PSI radiator cap?
12-04-2002, 11:07 PM
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Higher PSI radiator cap?
I have heard that a higher PSI radiator cap will help cooling, is this true? Can or will it help my cooling system in any way?
12-05-2002, 12:19 AM
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not nessasarily, if your cooling system is working correctly it should get hoter than 220 degrees. water boils at 210 degrees and coolant help raise that more. now with the stock caps ( ithink they are like 16 psi) it raises the temp another 15 degrees. all it does is increase the boiling pt. of water, not help the water cool.
12-05-2002, 07:04 AM
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Car: "02 z-28
Engine: LS-1
Transmission: 4L60E
For every 1lb of pressure the boiling point of water goes up roughly 3 deg.. However system components in the cooling system are designed to work in the 15-16lb range. By installing a higher pressure cap you run the risk of blowing a component such as the rad, gaskets or weakened hoses. I don't recommend doing that since with a 50/50 mix your boiling point is around 265 deg anyway. Most GM cars/light trucks operate a 15lb cap. The Stant replacement will cross to a 16 but 1lb is not significant. As the other post stated it will not improve cooling, only raises the boiling point and with a properly operating cooling system it should never get that hot anyway.
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