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Looking for Auto Experts to Weigh in on Loosened Petcock
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5et7JJ
New User
Nov 3, 2017, 1:43 PM
Post #1 of 4
(1353 views)
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Looking for Auto Experts to Weigh in on Loosened Petcock
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Hi,
This is an unusual post, and I apologize if it is the wrong thread.
We are currently working on a project to help collect and analyze as much information as we can about a person who disappeared in 1988. The disappearance purportedly involved some car trouble. Here are the known facts:
The only thing known so far about the car involved is that it's older than 1988. Make, Model, and specific year are unknown. The car was in a parking lot, and driven 1.5-2 miles to a gas station, in heavy snow, where it was pulled over and parked for vague reasons of "car trouble." The next day it was towed a mile to a home. The car then sat on the street for 5 days. It was then driven again on that 5th day, at which point car trouble of some sort was experienced, so it was taken to a mechanic who then reported the petcock had been loosened.
My questions are:
-Is a loose petcock a common problem?
-Can a petcock come loose easily?
-Are petcocks in the 1980's different than today?
-What car trouble is experienced from a loosened petcock?
-Is it plausible that if a petcock were loosened and fluids drained, that a car could be driven for 3-4 miles spanning a period of 5-6 days?
Thank you, I realize this is quite vague, but we are looking for any expert insight to help. Thank you again in advance.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 3, 2017, 2:51 PM
Post #2 of 4
(1343 views)
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Re: Looking for Auto Experts to Weigh in on Loosened Petcock
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About the only place a petcock would have been used is the radiator. Now it depends on just how loose it was. If it was just dripping because it was only cracked open, it would run for considerable time before it lost all the coolant. If it was opened completely, it would have drained totally in 30 minutes or less. Even if completely drained the car would start and run normally for at least 5-10 minutes before overheating and causing a problem.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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5et7JJ
New User
Nov 3, 2017, 3:15 PM
Post #3 of 4
(1337 views)
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Re: Looking for Auto Experts to Weigh in on Loosened Petcock
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Thank you HammerTime. What are the symptoms that are experienced if the radiator was drained of fluid? Does the car stop? Start smoking/steaming?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 3, 2017, 3:28 PM
Post #4 of 4
(1333 views)
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Re: Looking for Auto Experts to Weigh in on Loosened Petcock
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Obviously it would leave a trail of leaking coolant and once it got hot there would be some steam coming out of the petcock and eventually the motor would just bind up and stop.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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