overheating problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2010
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overheating problem
I have a problem with my truck overheating. Cruising speed is fine, slow speed it will overheat in just a few minutes. After about a ten mile drive the top hose is hot to the touch, bottom hose is warm. When I try to spin the clutch fan it turns about half a turn then stops. Water pump was changed about 2 years ago, no signs of leaking from the pump. Serpentine belt has been changed. Truck is a 88 f150 4x4 300 I6 with a 5 speed. Thanks for any help.
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Freshman User
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when i say it overheats i mean it overheats. Dash gauge pegs, coolant boils into overflow tank and out of overflow tank. The last time it did this was a few nights ago. Outside temp was about 65-70 degrees F. AC doesn't work. Truck idling.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,137
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From: Asheville, NC
A thermostat can do what you are describing, too. I've seen it happen. Sometimes it will not open all the way, and the water boils.
Check your radiator and cap, too. Our trucks are getting old.
Check your radiator and cap, too. Our trucks are getting old.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 463
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From: Rohnert Park Ca.
You either have a stuck t-stat or radiator fines are not flowing.air throught. I would remove the t-stat and inspect it. Then I would put it all back together with out the t-stat and test it again. If it still overheats I would then flush the radiator fins from engine bay out. Try that and see what happens.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 287
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From: SE WI
Might be time for a new radiator. Autozone has one that I used for ~$130. My truck would overheat after I changed out water pump-hoses-thermostat-cap-serpentine belt.
I took the hoses off, tried sticking the garden hose in to see how it flowed. It didn't flow. New radiator fixed it.
I took the hoses off, tried sticking the garden hose in to see how it flowed. It didn't flow. New radiator fixed it.
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Freshman User
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Fan shroud is still there and intact. 50/50 coolant mix maybe a little more water now, only had water to put in it the other night when it boiled over. How do I test the radiator cap?
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,429
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
with a radiator and cap tester. it is basically a hand held air pump with an adapter on the end of the hose that you either put in the radiator, or you put the cap on. then pump it up and see what pressure it opens at for the cap, or what pressure the radiator holds.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2010
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with a radiator and cap tester. it is basically a hand held air pump with an adapter on the end of the hose that you either put in the radiator, or you put the cap on. then pump it up and see what pressure it opens at for the cap, or what pressure the radiator holds.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,252
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From: IL
More than likely the T-Stat. Just went through the same thing on sons truck. Told him to flush the system and replace the stat. He didn't flush it but did replace the stat....now 2 months later he's overheating again.
