Foamy coolant question
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Hobbs USA
Foamy coolant question
I bought a welding truck for the place the other day and it came with a free 1974 parts truck(390/C-6). The parts truck runs OK but the coolant in the radiator looks like a chocolate milk shake! Suspecting an oil/coolant leak I checked the dipstick, looks good, no coolant and not overfilled. Drained the oil, no coolant in the oilpan, none under the oil fill cap, inside of valve covers or in the PCV valve. What gives? Could this just be some old nasty coolant or have I not checked something?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
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From: Iowa
Foamy coolant question
My truck does that. Theres oil passages from the cam journals to the rocker stands that sometimes crack. Oil then is forced into the coolant where it mixes and you see the foamy stuff you're talking about. As long as it only goes one way, meaning no coolant goes into the oil, dont worry about it. Just check the oil often and change the coolant every year.
To fix it, you'd have to drill the passage out to the OD of a pushrod with the ends cut off. Cover it with sealant, and trim it flush with the block surface.
Having a machine shop do it would be a lot faster, and probably easier.
On mine, though, I'm lazy and not gonna worry about it.
To fix it, you'd have to drill the passage out to the OD of a pushrod with the ends cut off. Cover it with sealant, and trim it flush with the block surface.
Having a machine shop do it would be a lot faster, and probably easier.
On mine, though, I'm lazy and not gonna worry about it.
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Hobbs USA
Foamy coolant question
Thanks,
I will keep my eye on the oil to make sure that the leak is only oil to coolant and not coolant to oil. At least it was FREE!
Is this a problem with all FEs or just certain years/displacements?
I will keep my eye on the oil to make sure that the leak is only oil to coolant and not coolant to oil. At least it was FREE!
Is this a problem with all FEs or just certain years/displacements?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Foamy coolant question
The problem seems to be universal among FE's but it is rare. I think that the FE blocks that were cast with the high grade alloy iron like the FT blocks are more prone to this type of cracking.
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