coolant bottle

[79Jeep5]

I was wondering if my 1979 CJ5 should have a coolant bottle? it has the AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l in it right now. it just drains antifreeze out onto the ground.

 

[CJ]

I don't show a coolant bottle until 1981.

You can do what I do, just rig up a bottle or buy an after market one. We put one of these on my friends - it looks pretty cool.

 

[elwood blues]

Summit SUM-G1474 - Summit® Radiator Catch Cans
$16.95


I've had one in my XJ for about 5 years, still doesn't leak.

 

[79Jeep5]

thanks for the info. the nos bottle would look cool

 

[BusaDave9]

If you install a bottle like what CJ has shown or any other plastic bottle put the hose in from the top and make sure it reaches the bottom of the bottle.

If you buy something like what Elwood has pictured the hose from the radiator should attach to the bottom of the bottle. That way when the engine cools it will suck coolant back into the radiator.

 

[ken98k]

When I got my 80 CJ5 , it had a 1 quart plastic oil bottle with the hose from the radiator run to the bottom.
Seemed to work okay

 

[jeffgtoman]

In order to get the fluid to go back into the radiator during cool down, you need a CLOSED SYSTEM radiator cap. The difference is an extra rubber gasket at the top of the radiator cap. This seals off the top of the fill neck so when the coolant cools and shrinks, it sucks the coolant out of the overflow bottle. If you have any small leaks in the cooling system, it still won't work because it is easier to suck air thru a small leak than it is to draw the fluid back up the tube.

You can still run a bottle without making it a closed system. It will just catch anything that blows out the overflow. This is required at all drag strips to prevent getting the track wet while drag racing.

 

[jeffgtoman]