Running HOT!
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Rossville, IN
Running HOT!
Hey guys, hope all is well with everyone. I have a 1978 F250 4x4 with a 400 engine, 4BBL carb and air conditioning. I have from the research I have done the biggest radiator you could get for the year in the truck. I have a flex fan setup, and no fan shroud.
Here is the problem. Tooling around town, engine runs what I believe to run a little warm - guage (accuracy is in question) runs a little on the high side, and even after a short run, the engine and radiator are too hot to even brush up against. I bought a camper to pull (22' 1978 Carriage), and the truck had plenty of power, etc to handle it, however when I got home the guage was pegged HOT and the engine bay was really hot.
After a little investigation, I realized that I have a small leak at the thermostat housing, which is easily fixed. The other, more interesting thing I noticed is that the upper radiator hose (return) was so hot, I couldn't believe that it wasn't melting, and the lower hose was only warm.
Would this be an indication of a plugged radiator? And if so, how do you unplug a radiator? What other possibilites? I have only owned this truck for about 6 months now, so I'm still learning this truck. Thanks for any info fellas!
Here is the problem. Tooling around town, engine runs what I believe to run a little warm - guage (accuracy is in question) runs a little on the high side, and even after a short run, the engine and radiator are too hot to even brush up against. I bought a camper to pull (22' 1978 Carriage), and the truck had plenty of power, etc to handle it, however when I got home the guage was pegged HOT and the engine bay was really hot.
After a little investigation, I realized that I have a small leak at the thermostat housing, which is easily fixed. The other, more interesting thing I noticed is that the upper radiator hose (return) was so hot, I couldn't believe that it wasn't melting, and the lower hose was only warm.
Would this be an indication of a plugged radiator? And if so, how do you unplug a radiator? What other possibilites? I have only owned this truck for about 6 months now, so I'm still learning this truck. Thanks for any info fellas!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,836
Likes: 261
From: Piney Woods of East Texas
Ford uses a down flow. Hottest part on top, cooling has it goes down. Radiators always get hot enough to burn you. So what you describe is normal.
Were you low on antifreeze since you had a leak?
Check and make sure your rad cap is good.
You really need to run a fan shroud. Without it you are not using full capacity of the radiator at low speeds..
You may need to have your radiator cleaned.
Were you low on antifreeze since you had a leak?
Check and make sure your rad cap is good.
You really need to run a fan shroud. Without it you are not using full capacity of the radiator at low speeds..
You may need to have your radiator cleaned.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
1) Don't go by the gauge.
2) Get rid of the flex fan and Get yourself a real Ford 7 blade clutch fan & shroud
3) Check your timing......bad timing can cause overheating
4) Check the value of the coolant to verify the ratio of water to antifeeze.... This is important.
5) Put a candy thermometer in the rad cap hole to see the ACTUAL temp of the coolant.
2) Get rid of the flex fan and Get yourself a real Ford 7 blade clutch fan & shroud
3) Check your timing......bad timing can cause overheating
4) Check the value of the coolant to verify the ratio of water to antifeeze.... This is important.
5) Put a candy thermometer in the rad cap hole to see the ACTUAL temp of the coolant.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Canada
check if your pressure holds in your cooling system, you can swap in a bike tire tube in place of your top rad hose, then just puff it up to 14lbs, see if it holds or leaks, remember the more pressure a rad system has the cooler it stays
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Definitely get the fan shroud back around your fan. Driving around without one is like going goose hunting with a 6" barrel on your shotgun and no choke. The hot engine compartment air is just being randomly re-circulated while you are driving around. With the shroud in-place, the fan pulls the cool air directly through your radiator fins, keeping your coolant cooler.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 17
From: Hesperia, CA
Get rid of the flex fan. As you increase the rpm's the thing flattens out and the air flow diminishes. If you drive around town with the rpms up you are not getting enough air flow to keep it cool. The cool lower hose means the radiator is working. The guys are right the engine might not be as hot as you think. Get an accurate gauge on it to make sure.
ALSO get rid of that darn flex fan before somebody gets hurt. I have a nice protrusion in my hood from a flex fan. Thank God the hood was closed when it exploded. I was fortunate and only lost two radiator hoses and got a dented hood. It would have been a major catastrophe is the darn thing had went through my 5 core Modine.
ALSO get rid of that darn flex fan before somebody gets hurt. I have a nice protrusion in my hood from a flex fan. Thank God the hood was closed when it exploded. I was fortunate and only lost two radiator hoses and got a dented hood. It would have been a major catastrophe is the darn thing had went through my 5 core Modine.
