what the...
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Harrisburg, NE
what the...
this morning when i went out to start my bronco it was cold, real cold after starting again a few times i got it to run by itself, but the tranny and steering were very tight, but i figured that it was the oil got cold and was really thick, but when i got onto the road the temp guage was showing normal, but the heater was blowing cold air, and a few miles down the road the temp guage skyrocketed and slowly came back to the top side of normal, then repeated itself, but nothing seemed to be wrong. anybody experience this kind of demon before? everything worked yesterday.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Spokane WA
i've had thermostats (even new ones) stick closed in the winter at around -15f to -25f even though the coolant was not freezing.
cold oil cranks slow, tranmission slugish, blowing cold air. the temp spikes before the thermostat opens.
I'm glad its warmed up to a nice 15 above zero
cold oil cranks slow, tranmission slugish, blowing cold air. the temp spikes before the thermostat opens.
I'm glad its warmed up to a nice 15 above zero
Last edited by oldhalftons; Feb 12, 2004 at 09:58 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,406
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From: Wheatland, Mo
Muscle Truck, I would check the mixture of the antifreeze in your cooling system. Should be 50/50, (antifreeze/water), but even with the correct mixture, a cheap antifreeze may not have a low enough freezing point. Sounds to me like some of your coolant froze, and as the engine got warm it slowly melted the antifreeze back into liquid. That will typically give you the overheat then back to normal symptons in real cold weather.
BTW...how bad did it get there for you? I'm in Aurora and it only got to about -10 here.
BTW...how bad did it get there for you? I'm in Aurora and it only got to about -10 here.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19
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From: Phoenix area
Billy Bob is right about the anti-freeze, my brother recently went on a trip to Montana when they were in a spell and his radiator got pretty slushy and I know for a fact he had the right mixture because I checked it with him before he left the valley of the sun. Sounds to me though like a temp spike because your thermo cap was late opening (I'm sure you know they are a cheap fix and if you can swap 'em out early you can always save yourself grief).
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Harrisburg, NE
according to my moter it was 2 degrees one and a half hours after i left, so it was very cold, but it did it again while coming home, i checked it and the coolant was low but my engine bay was wet, so i should check: freeze plugs, cap and thermostat, but i know that the coolant is the correct mixture, cause i remember doing so, guess I should really get that block heater on it, huh?
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Harrisburg, NE
i took the thermostat out of it and tested it, the water was boiling a little over 200 and the thermastat(190 degree) was barely open, but thats ok i have a spare thats a 180, it still works so its going in.
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Spokane WA
was it wet around the over flow container?
I still think thermostat rather than freezing, 2 degrees isn't that cold.
I still think thermostat rather than freezing, 2 degrees isn't that cold.
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Harrisburg, NE
actually, the overflow hose that comes off the radiator wasn't in its contanier, it was pointed down at the front crossmember, aimed towards the drivers suspention, it did spray all over the place, cleaning the suspention very well (although its not preffered) and I did find a faulty thermostat, but its already on the road again
