over heating
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New User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23
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over heating
Been working on this truck a while chasing down different problems.
My current problem is the engine is running very hot. we changed the thermostat and the water pump and cleaned the radiator . The truck doesn't heat up to hot when it just sitting running ,but when it get driven it pegs the needle on the hot side.
We have been looking for a vacuum leak,,we thought , the engine idle dips very low and then comes back up ,It dose this for a few minutes until it warms up ,then it goes away mostly but it still does it a little.
We were told tonight that it could be a blown head gasket ,that it could be the cause of both problems
Not knowing to much about this ,does this sound possible
wouldn't I have water in my oil or steam coming out of the tail pipe
any ideas?
wizzerd's dad
My current problem is the engine is running very hot. we changed the thermostat and the water pump and cleaned the radiator . The truck doesn't heat up to hot when it just sitting running ,but when it get driven it pegs the needle on the hot side.
We have been looking for a vacuum leak,,we thought , the engine idle dips very low and then comes back up ,It dose this for a few minutes until it warms up ,then it goes away mostly but it still does it a little.
We were told tonight that it could be a blown head gasket ,that it could be the cause of both problems
Not knowing to much about this ,does this sound possible
wouldn't I have water in my oil or steam coming out of the tail pipe
any ideas?
wizzerd's dad
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 12
From: Sand Lake, MI
The lower radiator hose, whats it's condition? Old soft and smash down flat easy? or is it stout or have a spring inside it?
I ask because if that hose collapses when under heavy vac action from the water pump, say when driving at cruise speed it would limit or even completely prevent the water from circulating.
At a idle or slower speeds the pumps not spinning fast enough for that to happen.
Just a thought....
I ask because if that hose collapses when under heavy vac action from the water pump, say when driving at cruise speed it would limit or even completely prevent the water from circulating.
At a idle or slower speeds the pumps not spinning fast enough for that to happen.
Just a thought....
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
You need to strongly consider the blown head gasket, given that it get's hot really fast once you start driving this could be the cause.
What happens is once you get some real combustion pressure while driving the fire pushes past the gasket into the water jacket and flash boils the coolant. Usually these little blows won't show other symptoms because the leak only occurs with high pressure.
Here's what to look for, first coolant pressure, when the engine is cold you should be able to easily squeeze the radiator hose. Then when hot it builds pressure and you can't anymore. If you can sqeeze it when hot, you need to replace the radiator cap.
OK so if you know the cap is good, drive it hard right away when cold. Before it it heats up sqeeze the hose, if hard but not hot the coolant system has been pressureized by the cumbustion leaking into the coolant.
If you want to be sure either way get yourself a chemical block tester like in this article; Auto Tips 101 - Chemical Block Testing There super easy to use and not expensive, Mr. gasket used to sell them but I can't find it now.
What happens is once you get some real combustion pressure while driving the fire pushes past the gasket into the water jacket and flash boils the coolant. Usually these little blows won't show other symptoms because the leak only occurs with high pressure.
Here's what to look for, first coolant pressure, when the engine is cold you should be able to easily squeeze the radiator hose. Then when hot it builds pressure and you can't anymore. If you can sqeeze it when hot, you need to replace the radiator cap.
OK so if you know the cap is good, drive it hard right away when cold. Before it it heats up sqeeze the hose, if hard but not hot the coolant system has been pressureized by the cumbustion leaking into the coolant.
If you want to be sure either way get yourself a chemical block tester like in this article; Auto Tips 101 - Chemical Block Testing There super easy to use and not expensive, Mr. gasket used to sell them but I can't find it now.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood, SC
I have been having similar symptoms. It seemed like no matter how much water I added it was gone when I checked and it kept running hot. My idle was up and down and It stalled when stopping. Today I started thinking about it and pulled the radiator cap from my explorer and put it on. Drove it 50 miles with no problems and no water loss. Its something free and easy for you to try.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 0
From: Renton, WA
Maybe, if you wanna be sure get one of those chemical testers, I wouldn't worry about it though if it's not overheating.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 12
From: Sand Lake, MI
You didn't actually say, does it slowly but steadily loose coolant over the period of a few hours/days but never leaks it on the ground?
If so yea you gotta blown head gasket or a crack or warp in something you don't want, usually just a blown gasket.
Have the heads checked out at a machine shop if you can't see a obvious point on one or both gaskets where it had been leaking to a water jacket.
If so yea you gotta blown head gasket or a crack or warp in something you don't want, usually just a blown gasket.
Have the heads checked out at a machine shop if you can't see a obvious point on one or both gaskets where it had been leaking to a water jacket.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 137
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Nope no overheating issues. I plan on picking that tool up at my local parts store tomorrow thanks.
