cold but overheats.....????
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cold but overheats.....????
Hello all. Im am no good at the four wheel monsters, I am a Harley certified mech. and thank god there is no radiators on them or I would be jobless. It is 3 deg. here today and i got the old girl stated and once I got a mile down the road she overheated real bad. I let her kool down and put a gal. of antifreeze in her and started down the road for another halve mile and she overheated again. The motor is a 460 something (so they tell me at the parts store) out of a dumptruck and has always been an ex. running truck ecept for this problem this morning. It is colder than dammit today and have no clue what to do as I sit at the house stranded watching the steam roll out from under the hood, please help with any info you guys got. If anybodys has a Harley tech question out there I got that for you. Thanks for youe time guys/girls.
LeRoy aka- '' hippie ''
LeRoy aka- '' hippie ''
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man I really app. your time. I let her kool off for the second time then ran it around the block and did not see a problem that time. If the block was frozen, will she thaw out and be ok? Do you think it will be ok, it's my only ride and hoping I did not brake it. Thank you for your time.
LeRoy
LeRoy
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Chances are it is OK....you will know if you start puking white smoke or antifreeze is running out of the block...hopefully a coreplug (frost plug) will pop out if the block is that frozen....we run -40 or better up here...you might want to get a block heater also.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Middle TN
Don't forget to drain some out and put some more antifreeze in before tonight!!!
After you add antifreeze run it till it comes up to full temperature with the heater valve open to make sure everything is protected.....bart
After you add antifreeze run it till it comes up to full temperature with the heater valve open to make sure everything is protected.....bart
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: trenton ns canada
if your engine was frozen for sure,your best bet is to let it warm up,and befor it gets cold enough to freeze again,drain the coolant that is in it.and replace it with either pre-mixed or mix your own 50/50 and you shouldn't have any problems.we get pretty cold temperatures up here and its a good idea to get yourself a cheap hydrometer to check it out.
you should be able to get one at any parts store for less then $15.might save you having to replace your engine due to a cracked block.
you should be able to get one at any parts store for less then $15.might save you having to replace your engine due to a cracked block.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Halifx Pa
First welcome to FTE, I agree with what everyone is saying. If you can get it in a warm garage to check it out and see if it is starting to freeze, which is what it sounds like. I would feel the top and bottom radiator hoses and heater core hoses to see, feel if water is flowing through the system.
Did you open the radiator cap to see if you see anti-freeze, or ice in there?
Also is it possible for the thermostat to be stuck in addition to lack of anti-freeze too?
You really don't want to run the risk of cracking the block, or even popping a freeze plug! Sounds pretty cold where you are, its no picnic her with it dropping to about 10 at night and teens during the day, (come on spring!). Go to an auto parts store and get yourself an anti-freeze tester this will give you a ball park idea of how strong your anti-freeze / water strength is. I keep mine at -45 degrees level and never have a problem.
Let us know how you make out, and good luck!
Did you open the radiator cap to see if you see anti-freeze, or ice in there?
Also is it possible for the thermostat to be stuck in addition to lack of anti-freeze too?
You really don't want to run the risk of cracking the block, or even popping a freeze plug! Sounds pretty cold where you are, its no picnic her with it dropping to about 10 at night and teens during the day, (come on spring!). Go to an auto parts store and get yourself an anti-freeze tester this will give you a ball park idea of how strong your anti-freeze / water strength is. I keep mine at -45 degrees level and never have a problem.
Let us know how you make out, and good luck!
Last edited by Tees77f150; Dec 22, 2008 at 05:49 PM. Reason: spelling
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Elder User
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On mine the thermostat sticks, it's new and even though it's below 0 here my temp still pushes the red then drops back down to normal. I've had to even tap the thermostat housing a couple of times to get her to drop. Over Christmas break though I'm installing a Robert Shaw to rid that problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: wyoming
antifreeze tester!! make sure waterpump is turning and full of coolant good to -45 degree's. Is thermastat good? I would test it to make sure its working. heat up some water on stove and watch thermastat and see if it opens up. Have a temp gage handy to watch when opening. On the frozen block issue some times freeze plugs don't pop out and can bust your block. If they freeze and bust its usually near rear freeze plug towards bellhousing. Seen this several times and once purchase a good block and thought if was good. I had to later repair block/stitch up to not leak. Look for leaks everywhere once you get going good luck.
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Harley V-Rods have a radiator.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Were you getting any heat form the heater? How long did you let it warm up for before you started driving it? Last time you flushed the cooling system? How does your oil look? Bubbles coming up thru the cap while its running?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Renton, WA
For what it's worth "freeze plugs" aren't really for water expansion if it freezes. They may pop out if the block freezes but you will most likely have a cracked block by the time that happens.
The "soft plugs" not "freeze plugs" are just there to fill the holes in the water jacket that the factory uses to remove the sand from in the block after casting. The were never designed to save a block if it freezes.
As to happiehippie's problem, He may have figured it out, it may have been a stuck or frozen thermostat or hose, but it takes alot for a 460 to "overheat" to the point of boiling out the coolant, and that heat will almost certanly thaw any frozen parts. It may be bad news, a blown head gasket will "overheat" an engine real fast. The combustion gasses blowing into the coolant both flash boils the coolant and pressureizes the system. It looks alot like the coolant is boiling out (it kinda is) but it's mostly gasses excaping out the cap.
The "soft plugs" not "freeze plugs" are just there to fill the holes in the water jacket that the factory uses to remove the sand from in the block after casting. The were never designed to save a block if it freezes.
As to happiehippie's problem, He may have figured it out, it may have been a stuck or frozen thermostat or hose, but it takes alot for a 460 to "overheat" to the point of boiling out the coolant, and that heat will almost certanly thaw any frozen parts. It may be bad news, a blown head gasket will "overheat" an engine real fast. The combustion gasses blowing into the coolant both flash boils the coolant and pressureizes the system. It looks alot like the coolant is boiling out (it kinda is) but it's mostly gasses excaping out the cap.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Saskatoon, Sask
It's common. My dad bought a 79 explorer with a 302 automatic that always read on the edge of boiling over. The guy before him flushed the system twice, re-cored the radiator, and had it all done by professional mechanics. My dad got it, changed the thermostat, problem fixed. Same happened with my 77 Ranger (with a 455 Oldsmobile engine). It read extremely hot until we changed the thermostat.
If that doesn't work, try changing the gauge in the cab before you go any further into repairs. As for any problems you encounter with a vehicle, always start for the cheapest stuff first.
If that doesn't work, try changing the gauge in the cab before you go any further into repairs. As for any problems you encounter with a vehicle, always start for the cheapest stuff first.