engine heats when when heater is on.
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engine heats when when heater is on.
84 f150- the engine temp heats up when I turn the heater on. I thought that maybe it was low on water, so I checked it. When I removed the radiator cap I heard a lot of bubbling in the cooling system, but the coolant level was at the top of the radiator. Any suggestions? thanks.
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From: Too close to Houston
Does it have a coolant recovery system? In that case the radiator should be completely full.
I can't remember if the '84's had a control valve on the water to the heater core. (My '83 doesn't.) If there is a valve it's possible that opening water flow to the heater becomes the easiest path for the water pump and not enough water is going to the radiator. If the radiator is clean and the lower hose is stiff enough that you don't think it's collapsing under suction I'd think about replacing the water pump. Has it been replaced recently? There is a reverse rotation pump used with serpentine belt systems that doesn't work well when spun the "right" way.
I can't remember if the '84's had a control valve on the water to the heater core. (My '83 doesn't.) If there is a valve it's possible that opening water flow to the heater becomes the easiest path for the water pump and not enough water is going to the radiator. If the radiator is clean and the lower hose is stiff enough that you don't think it's collapsing under suction I'd think about replacing the water pump. Has it been replaced recently? There is a reverse rotation pump used with serpentine belt systems that doesn't work well when spun the "right" way.
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Thanks
I have not gotten a chance to check it out yet, but I will tonight. My truck does have the overflow reservior on it. The water pump has less than 30k miles on it. Thanks for the help!
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Sport45- I think what you said may be correct. I never lose coolant from the system. There are no bubble in the radiator when the truck is running and I'm looking in to the radiator. I only hear the bubbles or "trapped air" when I release the pressure by removing the radiator cap. I noticed last night that the heater core hoses circulate coolant from the engine even when the t-stat is not open. So the engine heated up to normal operating temp. I turned on the heater and the engine temp guage started to read hot. (i did this with the radiator cap off) I felt the coolant in the radiator and it was luke warm, but the heater-core lines were very hot. I did the same test with the cap on and the radiator did heat up fast, put the top radiator hose did not get as hot as the heater-core hoses. The water pump is only 5 months old (maybe 6k miles on it) new radiator cap and 180 degree t-stat.
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The heater core is also new. Do you think flushing the system would help at all? I believe the radiator was replaced by the previous owner about 5 years ago. Sport45 it makes sense to me that if the coolant is taking the path of least resistance and circulating through the heatercore instead of the radiator that would defitely cause this problem. Would it make any diffence on the hose orientation to the heater-core?
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From: Too close to Houston
Shouldn't really matter which way the water flows through the core as long as it's full. Check the thermostat to make sure it's installed correctly and opening when it's supposed to. The best way to do this is put it in a pan of water and bring it to a boil. You'll see it open before the water starts to boil.
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Sport45 - I was leaning the same way toward the thermostat. I had the same issue a few years back with my `vette (Chevette that is ..hehe). Turned out that the thermostat had seized at the almost closed position, so after dropping in a new thermostat it was fine. $7.00 part and 20 minutes in the driveway ....
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sounds to me like a t stat as well. quick easy cheap fix. I have heard of clogged heater cores doing similar things but if the core is newer i would think the t stat is the culprate. a good pressurized flush never hurts and is a nice thing to do in order to keep the system cleean .
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From: Too close to Houston
Originally Posted by spectackler1
84 f150- the engine temp heats up when I turn the heater on. I thought that maybe it was low on water, so I checked it. When I removed the radiator cap I heard a lot of bubbling in the cooling system, but the coolant level was at the top of the radiator. Any suggestions? thanks.