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Topic: coolant system vapor lock

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chrisinak
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Posted: Jun 25 2011 at 12:57am \| IP Logged

What does a coolant system vapor lock look like in a 2007 frontier SE, 18k miles, 6 speed manual? Is there such a thing?

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chrisinak

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Posted: Jun 25 2011 at 4:35pm \| IP Logged

Welcome to the group!

Vapor lock is a condition where a liquid becomes a gas in a pump or its feed line. Some times it is caused by a drop in pressure and/or a rise in temperature. In an engines cooling system or a boat propeller there is a condition called cavitation. IMHO… (I didn’t take time to look it up) In the engine cooling system cavitation is some what similar the boat propeller. Bubbles form on the rotating blades of the pump and reduce efficacy of the pump. Sooner or later the blades of the pump will erode and further reduce the pumping action. And remember old coolant is not good for your engine.

Have a good one.. Don S..

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PLEASE >>> A SIG similar to mine can be VERY HELPFUL to all the members!
'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
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chrisinak
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Posted: Jun 26 2011 at 7:32pm \| IP Logged

An update: I found that a determined (because the notches are different) previous owner switched the coolant reservoir tank cap with the radiator cap. So that's why I never had a change in coolant level every time I checked. I am assuming that the level in the radiator reduced over time till it vapor-locked and developed enough steam pressure to trip the pressure cap, then on on the radiator, which forced all the coolant in the reservoir out it's breather hose. I have not been able to recreate the incident now that the system is properly aligned.

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chrisinak

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Posted: Jun 26 2011 at 9:43pm \| IP Logged

Water pumps are designed to pump liquids. Not Steam. What did the temperature gauge say while all this steam was being genarated?

Have a cool one.. Don S..

frontierguy
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Posted: Jun 27 2011 at 8:52pm \| IP Logged

The cap that goes on the overflow tank IS THE RADIATOR CAP-
the cap that goes on the radiator is just a cap and seal-no
spring or valve. The most effective way to fill this system
is with a vac. tool and pinching off the hose coming from
the bottom of the over flow tank.

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Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.

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