i have a 73 f250
my radiator is overheating when i just drive around town. i didnt even go over 45... its got radiator fluid and it is leaking a bit . it needs a new bypass hose. i dont have one... think that would fix the overheating?

 

How have to you verified it really is over-heating.
Is coolant blowing out the rad cap ?

Is the rad filled to high to start with ?

You only fill the coolant is 1" BELOW the inner sealing ring of the rad cap on the rad inlet otherwise you will get coolant out the overflow tube.

 

Do you have a good fan shroud, if it's a clutch fan on the engine, is it working properly? Also might want to do a pressure check on you cooling system.... The overheating could be something as simple as a bad radiator cap, stuck thermostat, or as expensive as a blown head gasket.... What temperature is the truck running at ?

 

let me get my gauges working first...

 

Basics:
Make sure all hoses are relatively new. Old suction hoses (bottom radiator hose) has spring inside, if spring rusts away hose will collapse as RPMs increase.

Make sure radiator is in good shape, no crud inside, fins all straight. If radiator is older and hasn't been maintained it probably needs to be rodded.

Make sure fan clutch is in good shape and that you have a shroud in place.

Make sure water passages in block are clean, I've seen blocks be neglected so much that the freeze plugs had to be removed and the crap inside flushed out/blown out with compressed air.

Make sure belts are in good shape and proper tension.

Also the rest of the vehicle comes into play -- is timing correct, is exhaust in good shape, motor jetted properly if modified, no cracked heads/bad head gaskets/etc.?

 

k... i jsut put a brand new 16lb radiator cap on the radiator... and it over heats in about 15min... and when i shut my truck off the cap starts shooting out fluid... W...T...F...

 

Was the system refilled before you did this ?

If so the system need burping.
Remove the cap....run the engine and watch for burps.

insert candy thermometer to verfiy temp.

if temp at 180* put cap back on

The rad shouldn't have been filled higher than 1" BELOW the cap sealing ring
Lots of people fill them too full for some reason

 

im burping the rad right now... no bubbles yet.... and my temp isnt hooked up. i think think the wires exist anymore. but the thermostat is there

 

well i burped it for about 15min and smoke/steam was coming out from where the cap would have been. i think its the head gasket... what do you guys think? this is my first ford i have noooo idea how fords work

 

they work about the same as anything else. no big differences. all ices are pretty similar except for in appearances.

 

Does the liquid bubble?

 

Good question.

To be a head gasket leak you have to see a constant bubbling action in the rad.

Please be aware that when coolaing systems are refilled from being empty.. Purging the system of air can take a few attempts.

My Buick 403 was bad for this problem.

 

i watched it for 15 min and no bubbles it just started steaming...

 

did it actualy look like the fluid was flowing good inside the radiator. if something is stuck in a hose or passage restricting flow then it won't cool right.

 

I read your posts and didn't see any mention of the thermostat. Is it removed,replaced?

Sorry, you did mention thermostat.