Radiator Cap Location?

[kware1]

Hey I have a question. Where is the radiator cap located on the 2002 4.6? I never saw one and assumed they just didn't have one. A mechanic friend was telling me today that every engine has a cap and I just didn't see it. I had the car for over 7 yrs and never saw one. Whenever I had to add coolant or whatever, I just went thru the reservoir.

 

[Exproblems]

Hey I have a question. Where is the radiator cap located on the 2002 4.6? I never saw one and assumed they just didn't have one. A mechanic friend was telling me today that every engine has a cap and I just didn't see it. I had the car for over 7 yrs and never saw one. Whenever I had to add coolant or whatever, I just went thru the reservoir.

The cap is on the Expansion tank or coolant reservoir. No radiator cap on the radiator itself.

 

[kware1]

Ok, thanks. Like I said, I had the car over 7 yrs. Knew I never saw one.

 

[Jim_WY]

How does one check the coolant level?

 

[Number4]

There is a 'cold fill' line marked on the side of the reservoir.

 

[Exproblems]

How does one check the coolant level?

By looking at the coolant level in the Overflow/Expansion tank mounted on the passenger side, fender hump in the engine compartment. It is the plastic tank with a plastic pressure cap on top of it. If you see no coolant in the tank, you need to add more coolant up to the "full-cold" mark on the tank. Add coolant with the engine cold to the full mark, drive the vehicle so that the engine heats up to normal operating temps and the t-stat opens, turn on the heater etc see if you are getting good heat into the vehicle, then after that check it again the next day after it has time to cool off and see if the level dropped again in the expansion tank. If the level is at the "full-cold" mark, your radiator and cooling system are "full", if below the cold-full mark, add more and check again.

 

[Jim_WY]

Thanks to both of you! Seems a little odd, but if it works, it works!