Steam coming from lower radiator hose - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72WiscSub · 07-18-2009, 03:42 PM

350 engine.

I have steam coming from my lower radiator hose where it connects to the water pump. No fluid leak just steam. My wife noticed it last week when she was out driving it. She stopped at a friends and and said white stream/smoke was coming out from the engine bay. Not a ton but enough to notice. When she got home I could not see anything.

I just got back from a 10 minute drive and when I popped the hood I noticed a bit of steam coming from the lower radiator hose.

The clamp seems tight. Is it normal for the fluid to get warm enough to cause steam or do I have a bigger problem? How do I check to see if the water pump is bad?

Any thoughts would be very helpful.

Thanks

tucnnuts · 07-18-2009, 04:54 PM

what is the temp gauge showing , is it full of water?

pitt · 07-18-2009, 06:12 PM

maybe just a bad thermostat if theres too much pressure building in the radiator and not circulating the steam will find a way out...do you have a vent line by your radiator fill cap? do you know if the leak is actually coming from your water pump from behind the hose? it there antifreeze in the system? if its just water it will make alot of steam when the engine gets to operating temps and that builds pressure. the radiator hose may have split as well.

72WiscSub · 07-18-2009, 06:12 PM

temp gauge is only to the first notch above the C on the gauge. radiator is full.

72WiscSub · 07-18-2009, 06:16 PM

I am using antifreeze. I do have an overflow tube coming off the cap. I will check the hose good to look for any cracks.

If nothing there maybe I will just get a new thermostat.

pitt · 07-18-2009, 06:28 PM

once it gets warm can you feel pressure in the upper radiator hose? you should once the thermostat opens you can feel the fluid moving through it... but if the thermostat isnt working right and doesnt open it creates back pressure and heat that could be y theres steam coming out of your lower rad hose once it warms up. if the upper hose feels limp and empty when its running theres nothing getting through the water pump that could mean a clog or a bad impeller, whats the puly on ypur water pump doing? does it wobble at all? or lock up? that would tell you if the pumps id bad. and is it antifreeze or water or both...just water makes alot more steam and pressure and if it sits long enough can rust things.

pitt · 07-18-2009, 06:29 PM

probably is just a thermostat tho

**john** · 07-18-2009, 06:38 PM

With the engine cold, get a mirror and check the pump weep hole and lower hose connection. You are more likely to see an antifreeze leak before warming up.

pitt · 07-18-2009, 06:46 PM

true... well im off to work on mine ttyl and good luck

BAGNDRAGIT · 07-18-2009, 08:59 PM

pitt definatly has you on the right track...let us know..

72WiscSub · 07-18-2009, 09:16 PM

I checked the connections and the clamps seemed a bit loose. I could turn the clamp screws 3-4 times without too much resistance. Still no fluid leak.

The water pump does not wobble or seem locked up. Maybe the loose clamps were letting a bit of the steam out.

I'll take it for another drive tomorrow and check for the steam. I am taking the Suburban to my first car show tomorrow. Should be fun!

BAGNDRAGIT · 07-19-2009, 01:30 AM

I LOVE CAR SHOWS!!!

BAGNDRAGIT · 07-19-2009, 01:31 AM

also what type of clamp is it? worm drive or those OE ones that are terrible?

vectorit · 07-19-2009, 01:59 AM

To me it sounds like something is plugged up, which could be causing a air pocket.

Eventually the lower hose will blow off, no matter how tight the clamp du jour is...

72WiscSub · 07-19-2009, 06:42 PM

Well it seems not having the clamp completely tighten might have been the problem.

I tightened everything down and off to the car show I went. I kept an eye on the temp gauge and no problems. Even idling in the line to the show for 15-20 minutes the engine didn't get hot and when I parked there was no steam coming from the hose or engine area. The thermostat seems to be working fine. I noticed when the temp went up about half way, it then went back to where it usually resides when cruising. Thermo must have opened.

Beautiful day for the show here in Wisconsin. 74 degrees, mostly sunny, man what a crowd. Over 1200 cars showed up and a ton of people. I have been at this show every year for the past 12 years, no car just spectator, and this was the biggest show I can remember.

My wife had the camera and decided not to show up. Oh well her lose!

I only saw one other Suburban, a 66. People seemed to really like the 72 Suburban. Great cars, great people, and great weather. Not a bad Sunday.

07-18-2009, 03:42 PM	#1
72WiscSub Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 75	Steam coming from lower radiator hose 350 engine. I have steam coming from my lower radiator hose where it connects to the water pump. No fluid leak just steam. My wife noticed it last week when she was out driving it. She stopped at a friends and and said white stream/smoke was coming out from the engine bay. Not a ton but enough to notice. When she got home I could not see anything. I just got back from a 10 minute drive and when I popped the hood I noticed a bit of steam coming from the lower radiator hose. The clamp seems tight. Is it normal for the fluid to get warm enough to cause steam or do I have a bigger problem? How do I check to see if the water pump is bad? Any thoughts would be very helpful. Thanks

07-18-2009, 04:54 PM	#2
tucnnuts if they can make it so can I! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: birmingham, alabama Posts: 97	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose what is the temp gauge showing , is it full of water?

07-18-2009, 06:12 PM	#3
pitt 69 GMC of DOOM Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: herington, KS Posts: 62	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose maybe just a bad thermostat if theres too much pressure building in the radiator and not circulating the steam will find a way out...do you have a vent line by your radiator fill cap? do you know if the leak is actually coming from your water pump from behind the hose? it there antifreeze in the system? if its just water it will make alot of steam when the engine gets to operating temps and that builds pressure. the radiator hose may have split as well.

07-18-2009, 06:12 PM	#4
72WiscSub Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 75	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose temp gauge is only to the first notch above the C on the gauge. radiator is full.

07-18-2009, 06:16 PM	#5
72WiscSub Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 75	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose I am using antifreeze. I do have an overflow tube coming off the cap. I will check the hose good to look for any cracks. If nothing there maybe I will just get a new thermostat.

07-18-2009, 06:28 PM	#6
pitt 69 GMC of DOOM Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: herington, KS Posts: 62	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose once it gets warm can you feel pressure in the upper radiator hose? you should once the thermostat opens you can feel the fluid moving through it... but if the thermostat isnt working right and doesnt open it creates back pressure and heat that could be y theres steam coming out of your lower rad hose once it warms up. if the upper hose feels limp and empty when its running theres nothing getting through the water pump that could mean a clog or a bad impeller, whats the puly on ypur water pump doing? does it wobble at all? or lock up? that would tell you if the pumps id bad. and is it antifreeze or water or both...just water makes alot more steam and pressure and if it sits long enough can rust things.

07-18-2009, 06:29 PM	#7
pitt 69 GMC of DOOM Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: herington, KS Posts: 62	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose probably is just a thermostat tho

07-18-2009, 06:38 PM	#8
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose With the engine cold, get a mirror and check the pump weep hole and lower hose connection. You are more likely to see an antifreeze leak before warming up. __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

07-18-2009, 06:46 PM	#9
pitt 69 GMC of DOOM Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: herington, KS Posts: 62	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose true... well im off to work on mine ttyl and good luck

07-18-2009, 08:59 PM	#10
BAGNDRAGIT Just Not Low Enough! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 525	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose pitt definatly has you on the right track...let us know.. __________________ NEED ELECTRICAL HELP? ASK ME! 67-72 Full Wiring Diagrams Lots Of Info, TAKE A LOOK 1967 Chevy C-10 Shortbox Bagged 327 4spd Previous: 1971 Chevy C-10 Short Sep I6 Auto (Traded) 1973 Chevy C-20 THE REDNECK BATTLE TRUCK 2001 Chevy Silverado 2Dr 5.3L Shortbox. R.I.P. 1969 Volkswagen Bug This is my first meeting, I have a horsepower problem.

07-18-2009, 09:16 PM	#11
72WiscSub Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 75	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose I checked the connections and the clamps seemed a bit loose. I could turn the clamp screws 3-4 times without too much resistance. Still no fluid leak. The water pump does not wobble or seem locked up. Maybe the loose clamps were letting a bit of the steam out. I'll take it for another drive tomorrow and check for the steam. I am taking the Suburban to my first car show tomorrow. Should be fun!

07-19-2009, 01:30 AM	#12
BAGNDRAGIT Just Not Low Enough! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 525	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose I LOVE CAR SHOWS!!! __________________ NEED ELECTRICAL HELP? ASK ME! 67-72 Full Wiring Diagrams Lots Of Info, TAKE A LOOK 1967 Chevy C-10 Shortbox Bagged 327 4spd Previous: 1971 Chevy C-10 Short Sep I6 Auto (Traded) 1973 Chevy C-20 THE REDNECK BATTLE TRUCK 2001 Chevy Silverado 2Dr 5.3L Shortbox. R.I.P. 1969 Volkswagen Bug This is my first meeting, I have a horsepower problem.

07-19-2009, 01:31 AM	#13
BAGNDRAGIT Just Not Low Enough! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 525	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose also what type of clamp is it? worm drive or those OE ones that are terrible? __________________ NEED ELECTRICAL HELP? ASK ME! 67-72 Full Wiring Diagrams Lots Of Info, TAKE A LOOK 1967 Chevy C-10 Shortbox Bagged 327 4spd Previous: 1971 Chevy C-10 Short Sep I6 Auto (Traded) 1973 Chevy C-20 THE REDNECK BATTLE TRUCK 2001 Chevy Silverado 2Dr 5.3L Shortbox. R.I.P. 1969 Volkswagen Bug This is my first meeting, I have a horsepower problem.

07-19-2009, 01:59 AM	#14
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose To me it sounds like something is plugged up, which could be causing a air pocket. Eventually the lower hose will blow off, no matter how tight the clamp du jour is... __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

07-19-2009, 06:42 PM	#15
72WiscSub Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 75	Re: Steam coming from lower radiator hose Well it seems not having the clamp completely tighten might have been the problem. I tightened everything down and off to the car show I went. I kept an eye on the temp gauge and no problems. Even idling in the line to the show for 15-20 minutes the engine didn't get hot and when I parked there was no steam coming from the hose or engine area. The thermostat seems to be working fine. I noticed when the temp went up about half way, it then went back to where it usually resides when cruising. Thermo must have opened. Beautiful day for the show here in Wisconsin. 74 degrees, mostly sunny, man what a crowd. Over 1200 cars showed up and a ton of people. I have been at this show every year for the past 12 years, no car just spectator, and this was the biggest show I can remember. My wife had the camera and decided not to show up. Oh well her lose! I only saw one other Suburban, a 66. People seemed to really like the 72 Suburban. Great cars, great people, and great weather. Not a bad Sunday.



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