air in coolant
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 35
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air in coolant
Ok, I took off the water pump belt and removed the thermostat housing, and after warming up the air bubbles came. Now, how can I determine if I have a blown head gasket, cracked head/block, or an intake gasket leaking?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,625
Likes: 342
From: Albuquerque
air in coolant
Well that would be the hard part. Do you get a lot of bubbles? You should check the spark plugs. burning water tends to clean out the combustion chamber. If you find two clean ones next to each other then you will at least know where the problem is.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay area
air in coolant
If the head gasket was blown, you may have seen bubbles right away. I am thinking that the bubbles started after the water started "boiling". my 3 cents.
Wayne 60 F-350
e-mail
http://home.pacbell.net/whomrig
Wayne 60 F-350
http://home.pacbell.net/whomrig
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 35
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air in coolant
I thought about the boiling water also, but the temp gauge was about 190, mixture was 50/50 anti-freeze, and after the bubbles made a lot of the water leave, I filled it back with cool water and the bubbles happened immediately. Seems to have a leak whenever the engine warms up. Someone said the radiator was the problem, but when the truck get hot, it does it real quick and then returns to normal operating temp. A bad radiator would get hot and stay hot. HELP!!!
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Deatsville, AL
air in coolant
Run a compression check and see if a radiator shop will pressure check the cooling system.
Bob
'66 7 Litre, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, Sidewinder Intake, SCJ Exhaust
'88 F150 LWB 4x2, XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'99 Ranger, 4x2, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi
Bob
'66 7 Litre, top loader, 3.25 Traction-lock, Sidewinder Intake, SCJ Exhaust
'88 F150 LWB 4x2, XLT Lariat, 302, 5 speed, 3.08
'99 Ranger, 4x2, 3.0, 5 speed, 3.73 posi
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2001
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air in coolant
My concern is that the pressure check may not show anything because the leak is coming in from high pressure exhaust.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 118
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air in coolant
I had the same problem but in a 350 chevy. The coolant was boiling but nothing else seemed to be broken. I had the radiator flushed and pressure tested. The flow was poor because of sediment from 20 years of truckin. Have it blown and tested,it should only cost $40 and knowing your radiator is good is well worth it.
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New User
Joined: Jul 2001
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air in coolant
I'm sure this is not the the problem that you have, but my first old ford van (70 1 ton/302) that I owned was doing the same thing. It did turn out to be a blown head gasket, but what I found when I pulled the pass side valve cover was very strange. The second head bolt from the front was just setting there. It wasn't threaded in at all.
BTW, in my situation, the water was NOT bubbling right away.
BTW, in my situation, the water was NOT bubbling right away.
Senior User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 166
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air in coolant
If you have an air compressor, go to the local parts store and buy an adapter and quick connect that will screw into your spark plug hole.Turn the motor over by hand to make sure the piston is on bottom then hook up the air and look to see if you have bubbles in the coolant.Make sure the piston is on bottom or the air will turn the motor and remember to pull the radiator cap off before you begin.If you have a blown gasket or crack you should know it instantly when you apply the air.Good Luck.
