Diagnosing Overheating
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
Diagnosing Overheating
Just picked up a new rig this week, a 94' F-250 460. Less then a mile a way from where I purchased the vehicle it was getting pretty close to overheating so I let it cool down and drove it to the nearest shop. Sounds like the guy has little time for me so I'd like to diagnose the issue myself.
what I know-
-the trucks radiator is only 1" thick which seems more than inadequate for a big block
-there is RTV around the thermostat housing so it was probably replaced at some point
-The electric fan installed by the previous owner was kicking on
-the truck heats up really quick a couple miles driving or 10 minutes at idle
How do I diagnose the overheating issue as efficiently as possible?
what I know-
-the trucks radiator is only 1" thick which seems more than inadequate for a big block
-there is RTV around the thermostat housing so it was probably replaced at some point
-The electric fan installed by the previous owner was kicking on
-the truck heats up really quick a couple miles driving or 10 minutes at idle
How do I diagnose the overheating issue as efficiently as possible?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 47
From: Mexico, Missouri
Hopefully the last owner or mechanic didn't install the thermostat in backwards....Or used a junk thermostat like Stant. Only use a Motorcraft thermostat on these rigs.
A 1" radiator does seem inadequate for a 460, but I've never dealt with 460's before.
A 1" radiator does seem inadequate for a 460, but I've never dealt with 460's before.
Temporarily Deactivated
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,859
Likes: 2
Check the temperature with another thermometer, the temp gauge might be wrong.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
Check the temperature with another thermometer, the temp gauge might be wrong.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
Check the temperature with another thermometer, the temp gauge might be wrong.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
I don't think you have the best luck with trucks. You've had some interesting threads. I hope you post an ending to them to tell how they turn out.
A couple things about cooling systems, heat transfer and pressure.
If it makes pressure without heat you have compression leaking into the cooling system.
It leaks if it doesn't make pressure when it makes heat and will boil at too low of a temperature. Rent a kit and pressure test when you have any cooling system problem.
Feel where the heat is and where it is going. If the heat doesn't make it past the thermostat it's bad. If the coolant isn't cooler leaving the radiator, your radiator isn't working. The air off the radiator should cook you.
If someone put the head gaskets in wrong it won't cool right.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
It is a confirmed head gasket failure. I got screwed over pretty bad. I only paid 1200 for the truck is it worth putting a head gasket into? I was quoted about 1400. Should I do it myself? I would consider myself pretty mechanically inclined but I have never been in an engine.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
I had a 1" radiator on my 302 for awhile, didn't know there is a 2.5" core available. Ditch that skinny lil thing and get a real radiator.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,698
Likes: 47
From: Mexico, Missouri
It is a confirmed head gasket failure. I got screwed over pretty bad. I only paid 1200 for the truck is it worth putting a head gasket into? I was quoted about 1400. Should I do it myself? I would consider myself pretty mechanically inclined but I have never been in an engine.
700-800 seems likely and if you did it yourself, maybe around 300-400.
Lots of idea's.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
Tore the engine down, Looks like it was recently rebuilt. And just my luck its not a blown head gasket but worse there is a crack in the cylinder wall of cylinder 5. I've got a scrapyard engine going in this week, I just hope my bad luck ends there
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 632
Likes: 41
So I gotta ask, did the previous owner say anything about this before you bought it? Have you spoken with them since? Small Claims Court doesn't allow lawyers and it's just you, them and a Judge. You can file the paperwork yourself because fraud is fraud. I bet the minute they get notice of a court date they make you an offer to settle. I just think dumping a problem like that on somebody else is not right.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 249
Likes: 6
From: 94' F-250 460 4x4 e4od
So I gotta ask, did the previous owner say anything about this before you bought it? Have you spoken with them since? Small Claims Court doesn't allow lawyers and it's just you, them and a Judge. You can file the paperwork yourself because fraud is fraud. I bet the minute they get notice of a court date they make you an offer to settle. I just think dumping a problem like that on somebody else is not right.
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