Radiator replacement/ coolant leak
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Radiator replacement/ coolant leak
I thought I remembered seeing a thread recently but couldn’t pull it up. What is the current preference for radiator replacement? Mine blew on the way to work yesterday, atleast I’m hoping that’s all that’s wrong. As far as I know it was still the stock one but if there’s a good upgrade im all for it. I haven’t confirmed it’s the problem yet but will before spending any money. Just trying to get my ducks all lined up so I have minimal down time.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 250
From: North Texas
I've been running Advance Auto's lifetime warranty unit in my Ex and F350 without issue. The stock units both sprung leaks at the plastic welds roughly same time. Someone here claims Autozone's unit is an exact replica of the OEM unit. Another member(s) have recommended ebay's all aluminum unit. This is nice since it eliminates the plastic welds. When mine went, I needed something local to get back on the road ASAP and priced reasonable. Advance had higher discount coupons at the time which suckered me in. No regrets thus far though.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Ordered on from oreillys, should be at the house tomorrow. Not sure how I didn’t see it but my factory one has about a 2” crack from the filler neck out towards the fender. Obviously couldn’t pressure test anything with that issue.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Updating this post too, new radiator installed, filled with water just to pressure test. Couldn’t find any leaks externally, pressure gauge went down super slow but i could hear it coming from the tester. Pulled the glow plugs to see if anything was going there, nope. Manually turned the engine over and got one squirt of water/ antifreeze out of one cylinder. Should I pull my injectors and repressurize to see if the cups are leaking?
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It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Elk Grove, CA
Sadly that sounds like the next step. Have new O rings on hand.
Not sure it matters but which cylinder had the water?
Not sure it matters but which cylinder had the water?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
That’s what I figured. I’ll pull them tomorrow or Sunday depending how it is outside and check again. Might go ahead and send them in to have checked out for the piece of mind( ran high fuel pressure for a while so little worried there). Hoping I luck out and the cups aren’t leaking, anything else worth looking into? Oil cooler and seals were new 3 years ago as well as the water pump. I’d definitely like to have my truck back and hoping it’s a inexpensive fix with just the radiator and injector check up.
Can’t honestly say which cylinder it was, I didn’t have the valve cover sitting square apparently so I got the splash under the truck when it happened. It was the passenger side and I want to say the rear most or just forward.
Can’t honestly say which cylinder it was, I didn’t have the valve cover sitting square apparently so I got the splash under the truck when it happened. It was the passenger side and I want to say the rear most or just forward.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,812
Likes: 1,335
From: Elk Grove, CA
If a cup is leaking when pressurized with sticks out that explains the symptoms. Knowing the problem is worth its weight in crypto. Replacing cups is a chunk of work but if that is the fix you're done.
I would not spend to have your semi new injectors inspected. I don't recall any symptoms that indicated a problem there. High FP could potentially blow an o ring but those should be renewed anyway.
Got the upper radiator hose that goes around the belt? Gates 22433 IIRC.
I would not spend to have your semi new injectors inspected. I don't recall any symptoms that indicated a problem there. High FP could potentially blow an o ring but those should be renewed anyway.
Got the upper radiator hose that goes around the belt? Gates 22433 IIRC.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
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Likes: 72
From: Springfield
I figured the cost of new o rings at minimum would be worth confirming the cups are good still or not.
Main reason behind asking about the sticks is I ran them for a while with like 100psi fuel without knowing it. The exhaust kinda stunk and at night atleast i could see a haze occasionally. Didn’t know if it was possible to break something because of the pressure that might not allow the fuel to atomize and burn properly. Some here have said some haze is just due to them being oversized injectors but I don’t recall anyone else ever mentioning the haze or strong smell from their trucks. That and I’m still on the fence about my turbo but that’s for another time.
Main reason behind asking about the sticks is I ran them for a while with like 100psi fuel without knowing it. The exhaust kinda stunk and at night atleast i could see a haze occasionally. Didn’t know if it was possible to break something because of the pressure that might not allow the fuel to atomize and burn properly. Some here have said some haze is just due to them being oversized injectors but I don’t recall anyone else ever mentioning the haze or strong smell from their trucks. That and I’m still on the fence about my turbo but that’s for another time.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
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Likes: 72
From: Springfield
I’ll have to track down a spray bottle to confirm the pump but from what I could see there are no leaks coming from the injector cups. Both pressure testers seem to have a very slight leak from either end of the hose if not at the right angle but nothing is showing in the engine luckily.
Edit, I spoke way too soon. Decided to open the drain on my oil pan and got water.@$%$#. So, any advice where to go from here? Or does it look like its time to pull the engine and start taking it apart again?
Edit, I spoke way too soon. Decided to open the drain on my oil pan and got water.@$%$#. So, any advice where to go from here? Or does it look like its time to pull the engine and start taking it apart again?
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Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I’ll have to track down a spray bottle to confirm the pump but from what I could see there are no leaks coming from the injector cups. Both pressure testers seem to have a very slight leak from either end of the hose if not at the right angle but nothing is showing in the engine luckily.
Edit, I spoke way too soon. Decided to open the drain on my oil pan and got water.@$%$#. So, any advice where to go from here? Or does it look like its time to pull the engine and start taking it apart again?
Edit, I spoke way too soon. Decided to open the drain on my oil pan and got water.@$%$#. So, any advice where to go from here? Or does it look like its time to pull the engine and start taking it apart again?
Was it leaking or did a pressure build up actually create a blow out?
Did the engine over heat at any point?
No coolant coming from the cups or sealant, but there is coolant draining into the pan?
Just asking questions as there are only so many ways for coolant to get into the pan...
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Original issue that started all of this was on my way to work when driving in town the truck was blowing smoke, gray or whiteish. When I got to work my degas bottle was empty so after work I filled with water and drove it home still smoking in town. Oil temp never got above 205 I believe.
I don’t know if pressure from
the engine caused the radiator or bust or it happened to bust on its own since it’s old but it was spraying coolant right on the air filter.
No coolant coming from the cups, I pressurized and sprayed resulting in no bubbles from any of them.
The day this started I checked my oil level and I don’t think it was higher than it should be. Got home and drained some into a cup and it appeared to be all oil. Replaced the radiator then filled with water to pressure check and before I left for work today I checked the oil level. It was high so I opened the drain and got water, degas bottle was low as well. The engine has not been started since I got it home the other day so the only pressure is from the tester.
I don’t know if pressure from
the engine caused the radiator or bust or it happened to bust on its own since it’s old but it was spraying coolant right on the air filter.
No coolant coming from the cups, I pressurized and sprayed resulting in no bubbles from any of them.
The day this started I checked my oil level and I don’t think it was higher than it should be. Got home and drained some into a cup and it appeared to be all oil. Replaced the radiator then filled with water to pressure check and before I left for work today I checked the oil level. It was high so I opened the drain and got water, degas bottle was low as well. The engine has not been started since I got it home the other day so the only pressure is from the tester.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 72
From: Springfield
Latest update from today. Drained all the engine oil from the pan, coolant from the system including the block. To add my my paranoia I had coolant/ water dripping out of the passenger side exhaust where it meets the up-pipe. So, what would be a good next step? I’m gonna try to see if I can remove the HVAC box under the hood to make room to work on the passenger side of the engine. Hopefully I won’t need to pull the engine but that’s yet to be seen.