Overheating Issue
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Independence
Overheating Issue
I was driving my truck today when I noticed the temp started rising quickly. I pulled into a parking lot but before I could pull into a spot steam started pouring from the vents on the dash and a hissing coming from the heater core. I let it cool down over night and drove it home after I got off work. When I got home I started by checking the thermostat and it was fine. Next was the water pump and it was fine as well. What else should I look into as far as the coolant system goes?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 4
From: Quemado, New Mexico
If you heard hissing from the heater core and had steam coming from your vents it is probably your heater core. At a minimum, it is probably one of the hoses going to it, but steam from the vents likely means the heater core itself has bought the farm.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 65
Curious why it would overheat.
Was it cold out? Very, very cold?
If your radiator froze you'd have no coolant flow, and that could cause an overheat. I've seen it happen.
Might check your anti-freeze to see how much protection you've got. A cooling system pressure test should tell you if you've got a leak.
Was it cold out? Very, very cold?
If your radiator froze you'd have no coolant flow, and that could cause an overheat. I've seen it happen.
Might check your anti-freeze to see how much protection you've got. A cooling system pressure test should tell you if you've got a leak.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Independence
It was in the teens that night, but I let my truck warm up for about 20 minutes before I drove it. Drove it about 6 miles before it overheated. I'm so paranoid about the cold weather that I change the coolant with a 50/50 mix before the cold starts setting in. I know it's not necessary to change it every year but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 65
Since you had a problem I'd still test the antifreeze mix. The testers are cheap and it's easy to do.
If you flushed the system with plain water, drained, then refilled with 50/50 you're probably closer to 20% a-freeze / 80% water due to the residual water that doesn't drain and remains in the system.
Something to consider anyway...
If you flushed the system with plain water, drained, then refilled with 50/50 you're probably closer to 20% a-freeze / 80% water due to the residual water that doesn't drain and remains in the system.
Something to consider anyway...
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Goldthwaite,Tx
Check to see if any coolant is leaking from the heater box. I used to have a 68 Mustang that had steam coming from all the vents and the temp gauge was showing hot. The heater box was dripping coolant on the carpet and it did turn out to be the heater core.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Independence
Thanks for the help fellas. Heater core was the culprit. Got it fixed last night and she's purring like a kitten. I didn't even think it could be the heater core because it wasn't leaking on my floor nor was it fogging up my windshield when I ran the heat.
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