Mechanic replaced the intake manifold gasket that was disintegrated and leaking coolant. I drove the truck home 10 miles. Next day I noticed no coolant in reservoir tank. Filled it almost to Max, drove the truck another 15-20 miles. Came home late and parked it. Next morning woke up and checked and the coolant tank was empty again.

So today I took off radiator cap, its filled about 3/4" from top. I filled the reservoir tank again. I started the truck with the radiator cap off. Squeezed the radiator lines on top and bottom and got a bunch of air to bubble out, once the truck warmed up more air bubbled out. Temps were reading right at 200. I ran it for 10 min or so. Once I shut it off I put the radiator cap back on. As the engine cooled I noticed more and more coolant being drawn from the reservoir tank into the radiator, I probably added approximately 1.5 - 2 full reservoir tanks worth of coolant back in as the engine cooled.

So now the engine is cool and the reservoir tank is leveled off. Is this fixed now or is there a leak in the engine and I just added 1/2 gallon of coolant into the engine? I feel like the mechanic would have bled the air out of the system, also the amount of coolant being added in has me a little worried. I am pretty new to all of this so please help and thanks!

 

Check the oil to see if it looks like a milkshake.
What motor? 351m and 400 intakes are dry. You’d expect the mechanic to heat cycle and add coolant as needed. Maybe call the mechanic and ask them?

 

What year, what engine, have you checked the oil level?

 

1977 with a modded 460. Tried contacting mechanic saturday am, I am impatient lol. Ill reach out tomorrow

 

oil is at full mark and clean thankfully. It was milky before the gasket swap and flushed out and replaced and clean.

 

It's normal to burp a little water out after being drained. as long as the oil looks good and you're not seeing leaks I wouldn't worry about it.

For future record if you drill a 1/8" hole in the thermostat plate you won't have to mess with this.

 

ok thanks, so just keep adding coolant as needed and keep checking oil until it stops needing coolant or oil gets milky

 

The engine was completely cool before I went to bed last night. I topped off the reservoir tank, got up this morning, and there was only an inch of coolant left in the reservoir tank. No leaks on the driveway.

 

Excuse my ignorance but did any of these trucks have a coolant reservoir? All I know of is maybe an recovery tank

 

that’s what I called it a reservoir tank but I may be wrong

 

it's possible that it took more coolant as air escaped out the system or atleast moved to the top of the reservoir as the fluid volume replaced the air volume.

I would however be looking really hard at the oil in the pan....might start with a clean container to deposit the current oil into in the event there is no coolant in it (so you can reuse it) and indeed the system is just taking more coolant. (into the right place!)

Then again maybe your oil will have coolant in it yet again.

 

Post up some pictures especially of the coolant reservoir/recovery tank.

 

None of them ever had a reservoir. I assume he means the radiator.

The fluid level should be an inch or so below the cap. if you fill it to the top it will puke it out the overflow hose to the level it wants when it's hot.

 

 

I am a big fan of the "park it on a steep hill, nose up" method of bleeding air from the coolant system. Looks like you have the heavy duty radiator which holds alot of coolant. 6 Gallons total capacity i believe. Might not have been full. I agree with 440sixpack in that it should level out. Another tell tale sign of low coolant or a stuck air bubble is a non functioning heater. Check your heat, keep an eye on the oil, watch your temp gauge.