it runs but for how long?


changed out rad and took it for a spin for 4.5 miles to store and a few min stopped there, one mile to pizza place with 15 minute wait and 4.5 miles back home. I noticed it was at the L on last 1/4 mile but no lights came on and didn't seem to be boiling when shut off. no running issue either. its wasn't that hot out either but maybe 75 out


Only a 1/2 gal of coolant lost and when removing top hose I could not blow into it which lead me to bottom hose issue of some sort.


I know it had the three caps removed but looks like it had two caps on the lower. I now have 4 caps in the box.

 

I believe once these Gauges read a certain temperature they peg themselves instantly to warn the operator of an issue. Don't quote me on that but it's ringing a bell for some reason.

If you overheated it bad you'd know it. Steam, coolant everywhere, coolant boiling, etc.

 

X2^^^ I've been up to the L a few times pulling hills, your alright. Did the engine temp light come on? I never knew there was one until I got mine hot.

 

The engine temp light didn't come one, no steam came out when I parked it,
I opened the hood to listen and no abnormal sounds like boiling.


Maybe I got lucky. I have driven it to work again today and runs fine so far after 60 miles.

 

Sounds like the OBS gods smiled on you. I'd feel pretty safe if I were you. MY brother boiled over his 6.0 towing a car home last summer. let it cool down and it's been fine ever since. He left it in Hot street while towing a trailer and it must have cooked itself. I'd say he got lucky. I also boiled over one of my boat engines when the impeller gave out. Couldn't even get in the bilge with all the steamed coolant coming out of the hatch. That also survived.

 

I had a 2001 Duramax that lost both head gaskets from me being dumb and wanting all the power when I was younger. I put 15,000 miles with head gasket issues towing 10k+ daily. I just drilled a hole in the coolant tank to it would vent the gas without pushing coolant out. The water pump suddenly went and I lost all coolant and overheated on the way to work one day. I finally replaced the head gaskets, neither head was warped, had valves done anyway, and replaced the water pump. It's still going 100k and two owners later. That was with aluminum 32v heads. I can only assume 16v iron heads would be even more resilient

 

I would say you are fine. If it didn't loose any coolant it didn't boil over it should be fine.

 

another 50 miles on it since yesterday, ill not worry about it so much now


Thanks for your posts

 

went for a 300 mile run to pick up a bed for a friend and no issues at the moment

 

Not that uncommon, no harm done. Last time I changed the water pump and fluid it was scary hot when that gauge went up, was sweating bullets. Probably just some air pockets in there. Just kept driving and watching , more miles than you did and the temp gauge came back down to normal.