Cooling system problem
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Cooling system problem
1996 f150 4.9l with a/c and 5 speed
aprox 125000 miles
pressure builds in cooling system and eventually will leak out the thermostat gasket
the temp gauge never reads higher then the first line and on the highway is almost to right cold
it has a new max cool radiator which the core is as thick as the tanks
new ford rad cap I think 14psi (stock)
heater seems to work fine and blows hot air normally
I'm aftraid one day the system is going to go poof and open up a major leak hopefull not the heater core !!!
anyone have any ideas ???
aprox 125000 miles
pressure builds in cooling system and eventually will leak out the thermostat gasket
the temp gauge never reads higher then the first line and on the highway is almost to right cold
it has a new max cool radiator which the core is as thick as the tanks
new ford rad cap I think 14psi (stock)
heater seems to work fine and blows hot air normally
I'm aftraid one day the system is going to go poof and open up a major leak hopefull not the heater core !!!
anyone have any ideas ???
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Sounds like you have at least two things going on.
One, your thermostat housing isn't sealed properly.
Two, either your gauge isn't working correctly, or your thermostat is stuck open or not installed at all.
If your cap is good, and it's leaking, then it's not due to excessive pressure.
One, your thermostat housing isn't sealed properly.
Two, either your gauge isn't working correctly, or your thermostat is stuck open or not installed at all.
If your cap is good, and it's leaking, then it's not due to excessive pressure.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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it is definatly excessive pressure because it causes the t stat gasket to leak
everything is new tsta, gasket, cap , rad
I tested the sender and it works
the gauge is just a voltmeter so it is unlikely the culprit
the upper hose gets harder then a rock after just a few minutes running
everything is new tsta, gasket, cap , rad
I tested the sender and it works
the gauge is just a voltmeter so it is unlikely the culprit
the upper hose gets harder then a rock after just a few minutes running
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129
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From: Augusta, Maine
The water pump is a centrifigal pump, not a positive displacement pump. So in other words, the water pump isn't going to create hose popping pressure on it's own.
This sounds to me like your thermostat housing is dinged up or not clean and the gasket is not sealing properly.
The radiator cap is going to blow first if you have excessive pressure. The cap is designed to relieve pressure when hot coolant has expanded in volume and can no longer be contained in the given volume, (radiator and block).
If your hose is building pressure that quickly, it might be that your radiator is overfilled, or your coolant expansion system may not be hooked up properly. When a liquid is heated it expands!
This sounds to me like your thermostat housing is dinged up or not clean and the gasket is not sealing properly.
The radiator cap is going to blow first if you have excessive pressure. The cap is designed to relieve pressure when hot coolant has expanded in volume and can no longer be contained in the given volume, (radiator and block).
If your hose is building pressure that quickly, it might be that your radiator is overfilled, or your coolant expansion system may not be hooked up properly. When a liquid is heated it expands!
