Drove a short while without coolant...
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Central California
Drove a short while without coolant...
I parked my truck today, and when I got back, I noticed that someone had puked coolant in that area. I took all to quick a look under my head and drove a half-mile to--maybe--a mile down the road. The temp gauge shot up (I'm amazed that didn't convince me to pull the truck back into the parking space), and I later discovered the neck for the upper hose had snapped completely off the radiator. ****ing plastic ****. Luckily the gauge didn't peg, and nothing started smoking or steaming.
Did I seriously risk greater damage? And if so, what should I look for?
Did I seriously risk greater damage? And if so, what should I look for?
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Anchorage
Originally Posted by Navy Jet Mech
I parked my truck today, and when I got back, I noticed that someone had puked coolant in that area. I took all to quick a look under my head and drove a half-mile to--maybe--a mile down the road. The temp gauge shot up (I'm amazed that didn't convince me to pull the truck back into the parking space), and I later discovered the neck for the upper hose had snapped completely off the radiator. ****ing plastic ****. Luckily the gauge didn't peg, and nothing started smoking or steaming.
Did I seriously risk greater damage? And if so, what should I look for?
Did I seriously risk greater damage? And if so, what should I look for?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Central California
Originally Posted by Tom92F150
It'd probably be a good idea to run a compression test and pull any codes. One trick my grandpa told me to do is take the radiator cap off and have someone crank it up while you look at the coolant in the rad. If there are lots of bubbles, thats a good indication of a cracked head. Good luck.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Anchorage
Originally Posted by Navy Jet Mech
Thanks for the help, Tom. I'll have to do the compression test and figure out how to pull the codes after I get the new radiator in there. And I'll do the trick with the coolant, too.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
Same thing happened to me last spring... the radiator cap either worked itself loose or someone (most likely me) forgot to put it on correctly. Anyway, when the weather got hot enough, all the coolant boiled away, and the gauge pegged to the hot side in a real hurry. Well, I was about 5 miles from home, but I had a jug of water with me that I put in the radiator, and driving slowly, I managed to get home. I replaced the thermostat (thinking that might have been what caused the whole situation) and got a new radiator cap for it. Filled it up with straight water for the summer months, and have driven it ever since... about 4 months now. Have'nt had a bit of trouble with it, and it does'nt seem to have suffered any permanent ill effects from the drive home, either.
You just gotta love how reliable those old Ford 300's are. Best truck engine ever made, in my opinion.
You just gotta love how reliable those old Ford 300's are. Best truck engine ever made, in my opinion.
