jimmyjames12

Do you guys know what this dome looking thing is called? it is on the passenger side


another question:
is the coolant reservoir tank suppose to have some coolant in it because mine is always empty
even after replacing the intake gasket which had the common coolant leak in the back of the engine.
I am asking because I can see white smoke coming from the tailpipe when it is cold.

I performed a compression test with results of
165 to 178 PSI


2001 chevy express 5.7L

mountainmanjoe

yes the coolant reservoir should have a fill line for hot and cold.

Sounds like you're burning coolant.

jimmyjames12

Dumb question but are you suppose to add coolant to the resivore after filling the radiator?

mountainmanjoe

The radiator should be full. The reservoir should be up to the appropriate line. The order in which you fill them does not matter.

jimmyjames12

The the shop manual said to fill the radiator and did not mention the reservoir. My thought process was the water would expand when hot and that is when the reservoir would be used.

Rednucleus

Keep refilling reservoir to hot line if empty. If it doesn't stabilize after several drives your coolant is going somewhere.

mountainmanjoe

It does expand. That is why there is a hot line above the cold line. But there always needs to be some RESERVE in the RESERVOIR.

Prince_Polaris

Oh no, my van also tends to put out a bit of white smoke when it's cold and I haven't checked the coolant tank in who knows how long since I never thought to do it!

AND my temperature gauge is busted so I have no way of knowing how hot the engine is! D:

Heck I gotta check the coolant tomorrow and see if there's any in the reservoir...

oldchevy

Fix the temperature gauge. It could save you a lot of trouble and money in the future!

Prince_Polaris

Do you know where it is? I know the gauge itself isn't broken cause if I turn it somewhere and then give it power, it goes right to 100...