radiator overflowing

[Andyboy]

Ok I finally took the old girl out. She did great until I got home and shut her off. As soon as I turned her off I heard liquid hitting the ground. I thought it was tranny fluid, but it was coming from the radiator overflow nipple. i don't have an overflow bottle. The truck was sitting for about 5 years. The truck has a v6 305 what should I check first?

[brokenspoke]

Bad radiator cap....

[joedoh]

bad thermostat

[**grumpy**]

How much fluid?
had you recently topped it off?
could be just leveling itself off.

Drive again and see if it does it. It may find sweet spot and stop.
If its continues, then Tstat, or cap.
Got a gauge? whats temp read?

[Andyboy]

Hey guys, Yeah I topped it off but left it 1 inch below the top. Cap and thermostat are new. The cap is a 4lbs cap, and the gauge takes along time to read. I went to the gas station and back and it was barely reading above the first line.

What do you guys think about the timing would that effect the temp.?

[Woogeroo]

crud/debris blocking the air flow across the radiator... either in front or behind. On the grill or on the radiator itself.

does it have a shroud?

since it has been sitting up, check the water pump and see if any coolant is 'weeping' out of the pump at the small little 'weep hole', if so, it needs to be replaced.

does the top hose coming off the thermostat get warm at all? If not hot, the stat may not be opening, even if it is new.

WITH THE ENGINE COLD: you want to have the cap off, crank it up and let it get to operating temp... then watch where the fluid level in the radiator drops to when the thermostat opens... or if it opens at all(keep an eye on the temp. gauge too). If the level does drop have some fresh mixed up coolant to add to top it off. Be sure to put the cap back on snug BEFORE shutting the engine off or it will puke. Good leather work gloves or some thick rags may come in handy. This is the method I use whenever I do work on my radiator/water pump/anything that may have led to a loss of a lot of coolant. That way I know the pump is pulling water through the whole engine.

My pops taught me that one.


-W

p.s. as for an overflow bottle... any kind of container that can handle hot liquid can work.

[Andyboy]

Originally Posted by Woogeroo

crud/debris blocking the air flow across the radiator... either in front or behind. On the grill or on the radiator itself.

does it have a shroud?

since it has been sitting up, check the water pump and see if any coolant is 'weeping' out of the pump at the small little 'weep hole', if so, it needs to be replaced.

does the top hose coming off the thermostat get warm at all? If not hot, the stat may not be opening, even if it is new.

WITH THE ENGINE COLD: you want to have the cap off, crank it up and let it get to operating temp... then watch where the fluid level in the radiator drops to when the thermostat opens... or if it opens at all(keep an eye on the temp. gauge too). If the level does drop have some fresh mixed up coolant to add to top it off. Be sure to put the cap back on snug BEFORE shutting the engine off or it will puke. Good leather work gloves or some thick rags may come in handy. This is the method I use whenever I do work on my radiator/water pump/anything that may have led to a loss of a lot of coolant. That way I know the pump is pulling water through the whole engine.

My pops taught me that one.


-W

p.s. as for an overflow bottle... any kind of container that can handle hot liquid can work.

It does not have a shroud. Water pump is new also. I'll have to check the other two things tomorrow. thanks

[Woogeroo]

Let us know what you find out!

-W

[brokenspoke]

Originally Posted by Andyboy

Hey guys, Yeah I topped it off but left it 1 inch below the top. Cap and thermostat are new. The cap is a 4lbs cap, and the gauge takes along time to read. I went to the gas station and back and it was barely reading above the first line.

What do you guys think about the timing would that effect the temp.?

I may be wrong but a 4 lb cap is not holding enough pressure...imho

[Andyboy]

Well I turned on the truck but with the cap on(forgot to take it off). I had it on for around 15 mins. and it started to shoot out the overflow nipple, constant flow. Turned off engine. Well the upper hose did get warm while the engine was on and the temp gauge went to mid point then dropped alittle. Then it started shooting out. While the engine is running is the water in the radiator flowing or standing still? Mine doesn't flow. I might take the radiator in and have it flushed, it was sitting for around 5 years and summer is around the corner.

[1963c-10]

Might check the heater core also if its runs without a valve.

[Bears63]

Check the radiator cap!!! A 4 lbs cap is nowhere near enough to hold the pressure. It's going to open and there goes your coolant. You should have about a 13 lbs cap on that thing. Try that first.

[T Smith]

It's not going to stay full without a coolant return system, it will find its sweet spot and run an inch or so down, the coolant has to expand and go some where then when it cools it will be low, that's the nature of the beast.

[Andyboy]

UPDATE: Well I took the radiator to a shop and had them boil it. They said it wasn't plugged up to bad, and had 2 pin holes on top. So I installed the radiator but when I checked the oil, It smells like gas. So the fuel pump will be here tomorrow. I also have to buy a overflow tank and install that, so as soon as I put it back together I'll let you guys know. Thanks for all the feed back.

[MisterC]

Good luck Andy! I don't know anything about those V-6's, but mine was doing the same and I had the guys over at Visalia Radiator go through it. Works like a champ now!

[maxwoof]

As posted earlier, coolant will overflow as it expands when it gets hot. This is magnified after shut down as the heat from the block is absorbed by the coolant which is still. Enough coolant will be forced out of the overflow until ultimately only air is discharged by coolant expansion. In my 62, that puts the level at just above the core. No more drips once this level is reached.
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[gimmy 64]

i'am not sure if this your problem but alot of people on here are not old enough to remember that before what would you call it --sealed cooling systems it was normal for your car or truck especially if driven on the freeway to puke some coolant on the ground after you stopped engine.that is why alot of guys put catch cans on there cars to not be embarased by your car or truck marking it's spot

[Andyboy]

Well I got it all put back together and so far so good. I guess the radiator just needed to be cleaned out. Also I'm using a 7lbs. cap and I installed a overflow tank. It didn't puke today so, looks good. Thanks for every ones input.

[MisterC]

Sweet! Glad to hear it.

[64shortbox]

Glad everything worked out OK. What about the fuel smell in the oil? Is that gone now also?

[chevy_mike]

My guess is it was the new radiator cap. That extra 3 lbs. can make a big difference. Heck, I didn't even think you could buy one less than 10 lbs. rating.

[Andyboy]

Originally Posted by 64shortbox

Glad everything worked out OK. What about the fuel smell in the oil? Is that gone now also?

Thanks, and yeah I changed the fuel pump and oil and it seems good.

[MisterC]

Originally Posted by Andyboy

Thanks, and yeah I changed the fuel pump and oil and it seems good.

Does that mean you're good to drive with me to the CPP gathering on the 16th???

I upgraded my AAA membership so no fears on my part.

[Andyboy]

Originally Posted by MisterC

Does that mean you're good to drive with me to the CPP gathering on the 16th???

I upgraded my AAA membership so no fears on my part.

I wish, I still have to do the brake system. It would be nice.