Boiling radiator
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 34
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From: Alaska
Boiling radiator
Hello,
Just picked up an 85 with the carbed 2.8 for $200.00 Didn't have a distro in it. Picked up one from another 85 2.8 from a ranger. ANywho now it boils the radiator after any amount of runnig time. No oil in the water nor water in the oil???? Any thoughts? Thanks.
Just picked up an 85 with the carbed 2.8 for $200.00 Didn't have a distro in it. Picked up one from another 85 2.8 from a ranger. ANywho now it boils the radiator after any amount of runnig time. No oil in the water nor water in the oil???? Any thoughts? Thanks.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
Hello,
Thermo yes, I think as the top hose gets hot but then again it could be block heat I suppose. As for flow, I'm not sure, I'll have to check that along with the pump flow. I'm also swapping the rad cap from my 87 that runs like a champ, including the 3K miles from Utah to Alaska! My first post was during lunch and now I'm home and am disgusted with all 3 of my B2s right now so taking a day off from them. I''l let ya'll know what I find when I feel like tackling this one again.
Thermo yes, I think as the top hose gets hot but then again it could be block heat I suppose. As for flow, I'm not sure, I'll have to check that along with the pump flow. I'm also swapping the rad cap from my 87 that runs like a champ, including the 3K miles from Utah to Alaska! My first post was during lunch and now I'm home and am disgusted with all 3 of my B2s right now so taking a day off from them. I''l let ya'll know what I find when I feel like tackling this one again.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 34
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From: Alaska
Well,
I'm beginning to think it's a head gasket problem. I pulled the radiator and found the petcock would not drain, hmm. Drained it via the lower hose. Back flushing it push out some nasty stuff. Radiator now flows good in all respects. Pulled the thermo adapter, no thermo installed, hmm... Had a spre and swapped it in. Cranked her up and waited for flow through the radiator. After about 15 minutes of running the upper hose feels hot but the rad is still stone cold. I did notice a bit of white smoke at teh tail pipe this time but the weather was a bit cool here in Alaska and there was no noticeable water at the tailpipe??? If I'm getting steam or just air pushed from the cylinders into the water passages why no flow? Oh yeah, I had to move the truck with the rad out and no coolant was pumped out. Hmm, this might be a 2 part problem. I have seen a water pump fail for the rotor coming off the shaft on a 66 Mustang. I suppose that'll be the next test but on this 85 getting to the water pump looks like about 3 steps from pulling the heads!
I'm beginning to think it's a head gasket problem. I pulled the radiator and found the petcock would not drain, hmm. Drained it via the lower hose. Back flushing it push out some nasty stuff. Radiator now flows good in all respects. Pulled the thermo adapter, no thermo installed, hmm... Had a spre and swapped it in. Cranked her up and waited for flow through the radiator. After about 15 minutes of running the upper hose feels hot but the rad is still stone cold. I did notice a bit of white smoke at teh tail pipe this time but the weather was a bit cool here in Alaska and there was no noticeable water at the tailpipe??? If I'm getting steam or just air pushed from the cylinders into the water passages why no flow? Oh yeah, I had to move the truck with the rad out and no coolant was pumped out. Hmm, this might be a 2 part problem. I have seen a water pump fail for the rotor coming off the shaft on a 66 Mustang. I suppose that'll be the next test but on this 85 getting to the water pump looks like about 3 steps from pulling the heads!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,307
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From: MARYLAND
check the oil..look like cholocate milk? steam comming out of the exhaust pipe will be a sign of a bad head gasket.
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New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
put in an explorer radiator
my b2 was constantly running hot. Changed flimsy factory radiator for
new 91 explorer radiator from advanc auto. runs cool as cucumber now.
bolts right in same as original. hoses hook right up. factory radiator
was plastic with only 1 core. explorer has metal and 2 cores. no more
heat problems.
new 91 explorer radiator from advanc auto. runs cool as cucumber now.
bolts right in same as original. hoses hook right up. factory radiator
was plastic with only 1 core. explorer has metal and 2 cores. no more
heat problems.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Buckeye, AZ
If thermostat, very right as I had two in a 2.8 replaced the top one even though that one looked new, still overheated after banging my head against the wall for a while, had a well seasoned tech after finding humor in my plight finaly tell me I should just remove the lower rad hose adapter to which I found the factory thermostat still there.
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