Losing Coolant?
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Losing Coolant?
I have a 1988 E350 with a 460 in a Motorhome. Total weight 14k including the little Geo Tracker we pull.
I can't seem to keep the radiator full. The temp gauge reads between the "O" and the "R" most times and will go to the "M" or "A" when climbing a hill. When I check the radiator the coolant is always low. If I add coolant, and then drive the vehicle, it comes out of the overflow tube until it reaches some lower level and then stops. When I check the coolant level I can't see any coolant in the top and the core is exposed. If I add coolant same thing all over again.
Is this normal or does anybody have any ideas about what might be going on. I have a new fan (clutch seized on the old one), a new radiator cap, a new thermostat, and I flushed the system last year (did it myself).
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
I can't seem to keep the radiator full. The temp gauge reads between the "O" and the "R" most times and will go to the "M" or "A" when climbing a hill. When I check the radiator the coolant is always low. If I add coolant, and then drive the vehicle, it comes out of the overflow tube until it reaches some lower level and then stops. When I check the coolant level I can't see any coolant in the top and the core is exposed. If I add coolant same thing all over again.
Is this normal or does anybody have any ideas about what might be going on. I have a new fan (clutch seized on the old one), a new radiator cap, a new thermostat, and I flushed the system last year (did it myself).
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
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From: Northwest
It almost sounds like you have a very slight blown head gasket. Pressure from the cylinder with the blown gasket may be pressurizing the cooling system......... thus blowing out the coolant.
If the leak is very slow, and it is pressurizing the very slowly........ it can be a real pain to diagnose because most people keep chasing "overheating" problems when in fact the only reason it's overheating is because the engine cylinder pressure is pushing all the water out of the cooling system.
If the leak is very slow, and it is pressurizing the very slowly........ it can be a real pain to diagnose because most people keep chasing "overheating" problems when in fact the only reason it's overheating is because the engine cylinder pressure is pushing all the water out of the cooling system.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: savannah,ga
possible that you need a cap
when system pressurizes coolant is forced into overflow bottle
as it cools a vacuum forms to pull the coolant back into the system
the cap has two gaskets, check both closely
replace if any signs of damage
when system pressurizes coolant is forced into overflow bottle
as it cools a vacuum forms to pull the coolant back into the system
the cap has two gaskets, check both closely
replace if any signs of damage
Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Checking for blown head gasket
When my sister's '95 Cougar had a blown head gasket the mechanic found out by checking the radiator hose before the engine warmed up. If the hose gets rock hard before the coolant gets hot then the assumption is engine compression is pumping it up. Hope that helps (if I understood him correctly because I never checked it myself).
Last edited by TallPaul; Jul 14, 2004 at 11:08 AM.
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Originally Posted by Ultramagdan
Do you have a overfill bottle attached to the radiator? Attaching a overflow bottle to catch the overflow will help out alot.
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Ever had the cooling system pressure-tested? Any chance of a small leak from the radiator or heater hoses? Any evidence of antifreeze staining on the hoses, clamps or any t-fittings that the system might have?
Last edited by PaulC; Jul 14, 2004 at 01:42 PM.
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From: Fairbanks, Alaska
First visually check to see if you can find coolant leaking somewere. When your vehicle is up to running temperature does the upper radiator hose feel rock hard, like it is going to explode? If so you probably have blown head gasket. I just had the same problem with my 95 bronco but it wasnt loosing coolant as fast as you are. Sounds like a pretty good blown head gasket, not hard to change but does take some time, and if your exaust manifold bolts are rusted you are going to have a heck of a time getting those out without breaking one inside the head.
Lead Driver
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Guys, let's read the original post.... The coolant drops to a certain point and remains there. He stated he is losing coolant via the overflow tube, implying there is no coolant recovery bottle on the vehicle. If that is indeed the case, then the coolant loss is normal, and no matter how many times it is topped off, it will fall back to the same level as it is expelled by the system pressure. If it were caused by a blown head gasket, the coolant would continue to drop until it was low enough that the water pump could no longer circulate it, then bang, rattle, screech, pop, sieze (not necessarily in that order).
It doesn't mean a thing if the upper hose is hard as a rock. It can get just as hard under normal operating conditions. The pressure cap will only let the system reach a certain pressure before it vents some of it off, whether the pressure is caused by expansion or head gasket leakage. And yes, when the engine goes from 70 to 190 degrees, it will build enough pressure to force the cap to vent, expecially when full of liquid which not only expands but is also noncompressible.
It doesn't mean a thing if the upper hose is hard as a rock. It can get just as hard under normal operating conditions. The pressure cap will only let the system reach a certain pressure before it vents some of it off, whether the pressure is caused by expansion or head gasket leakage. And yes, when the engine goes from 70 to 190 degrees, it will build enough pressure to force the cap to vent, expecially when full of liquid which not only expands but is also noncompressible.
Last edited by Pikachu; Jul 19, 2004 at 10:15 AM.
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From: Northwest
And if you.... Picachu reads the original post again you'll notice he says that when he checks the coolant ........ there isn't any, just an exposed radiator core. That is not normal, even without a recovery bottle.
A very very slightly blown head gasket will cause exactly the problem he is talking about. A very slightly blown head gasket may only pressurize the system and cause coolant loss when you run it hard..... like uphill in a motor home.
A completely blown head gasket is a no brainer to diagnose, but one that only leaks a teeny tiny bit will have you chasing cooling system gremlins for weeks......
A very very slightly blown head gasket will cause exactly the problem he is talking about. A very slightly blown head gasket may only pressurize the system and cause coolant loss when you run it hard..... like uphill in a motor home.
A completely blown head gasket is a no brainer to diagnose, but one that only leaks a teeny tiny bit will have you chasing cooling system gremlins for weeks......
Lead Driver
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
Originally Posted by mpmccarthy
[SNIP]
If I add coolant, and then drive the vehicle, it comes out of the overflow tube until it reaches some lower level and then stops.
[SNIP]
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
If I add coolant, and then drive the vehicle, it comes out of the overflow tube until it reaches some lower level and then stops.
[SNIP]
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
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No, I do not have a coolant recovery bottle. I bought one but now I have to figure out a place to mount it. since this is a Motorhome there is an extra battery under the hood and that leaves no room for anything else.
The upper radiator hose remains soft. It does seem that the temperature varies too much when climbing hills but it never really overheats according to the idiot gauge. However, the temp in the passenger compartment of this
E350 goes way up when the water temp gauge goes up so I really do believe it is running too hot.
I don't have any leaks other than out of the overflow tube. I did replace the radiator cap a while ago but I wonder if that cheap after market cap is malfunctioning.
I think I will focus on the radiator system for now because I don't even want to think about head gaskets.
Thanks for all of the advice. As usual there are usually several things that could be causing the problem. Now I have to start eliminating them one by one.
The upper radiator hose remains soft. It does seem that the temperature varies too much when climbing hills but it never really overheats according to the idiot gauge. However, the temp in the passenger compartment of this
E350 goes way up when the water temp gauge goes up so I really do believe it is running too hot.
I don't have any leaks other than out of the overflow tube. I did replace the radiator cap a while ago but I wonder if that cheap after market cap is malfunctioning.
I think I will focus on the radiator system for now because I don't even want to think about head gaskets.
Thanks for all of the advice. As usual there are usually several things that could be causing the problem. Now I have to start eliminating them one by one.
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It just occured to me that I had to replace the fan/clutch last year as the old one froze up. It made a noticeable difference in engine noise and it put a constant load on the engine so 55mph was about as fast as I could go.
Now that I think about I don't think the new fan clutch ever engages. I never hear what sounds like an increase in engine revs no matter what the temperature on the gauge.
I have to get a coolant gauge that actually reads the temp instead of this cotton picking idiot gauge with "NORMAL" on it.
Then again, has anyone one ever calibrated the "NORMAL" gauge to actual temperature?
Now that I think about I don't think the new fan clutch ever engages. I never hear what sounds like an increase in engine revs no matter what the temperature on the gauge.
I have to get a coolant gauge that actually reads the temp instead of this cotton picking idiot gauge with "NORMAL" on it.
Then again, has anyone one ever calibrated the "NORMAL" gauge to actual temperature?
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I think I found the problem.
Since I live and work full time in this motor home I decided that preventative maintenance during the warm months was a good idea so I decided to replace all of the components in the cooling system. Besides I thought I heard the water pump making noise. After all, the vehicle is 16 years old and all of the cooling system components except the thermostat and fan clutch are original. Sooner or later something was going to fail.
I pulled the radiator and found a few small leaks. One was at the top of the radiator and leaked down right next to the over flow tube. I actually followed the outside of the tube. Hence it appeared as if coolant was coming out of the tube.
I have to give it a road test in the coming week so we shall see what happens. I would bet it runs cooler now and I shouldnt' be losing any coolant.
Since I live and work full time in this motor home I decided that preventative maintenance during the warm months was a good idea so I decided to replace all of the components in the cooling system. Besides I thought I heard the water pump making noise. After all, the vehicle is 16 years old and all of the cooling system components except the thermostat and fan clutch are original. Sooner or later something was going to fail.
I pulled the radiator and found a few small leaks. One was at the top of the radiator and leaked down right next to the over flow tube. I actually followed the outside of the tube. Hence it appeared as if coolant was coming out of the tube.
I have to give it a road test in the coming week so we shall see what happens. I would bet it runs cooler now and I shouldnt' be losing any coolant.
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