overheating problems

[dropped_71chevy]

My truck got hotter than usual (not really overheated just above 180 degrees, which is normal) about a week ago and I decided that my heater core was the culprit.

I replaced the heater core and was on my way. Two days ago it overheats again. I fill it with about a gallon of 50/50 mix. Today it overheats again. I fill it and it goes back to normal of course.

What would cause this to happen? I pulled the dipstick and tried to smell and see if there was any antifreeze in the oil. I couldn't tell. Tomorrow I will do a sniff test with some plain oil and some of my engine oil to see if there is a difference. The only thing about that is that my oil level hasn't gone up at all.

When it overheats there are two little puddles on either side of my intake manifold where it meets with the head.

Also, my oil pressure is high when it's cold and then when it is at operating temperature it drops down to exactly half on the stock gauge. It goes up as I accelerate.

Would my exhaust smell funny if I was burning antifreeze?

I recently built this engine. We dyno'd it and it held together fine for about 3 weeks until it got hot that first time.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry about the long post.

Thanks

Tim

[Hooter]

is your thermostat sticking? how bout the water pump?
radiator flowing nicely?

[dropped_71chevy]

I don't think its the t stat cause I'm losing a gallon of antifreeze every two days almost, new water pump-no signs of it going bad,

How do I check the radiator flow?

Tim

[Hooter]

give your rad hose a squeeze and you should feel it surge when you let it go, while it is running

[dropped_71chevy]

ok, thanks

[dropped_71chevy]

What is the chance that I could have that much coolant in my oil or that I can burn that much coolant

Could my head just need to be retorqued?

[Hooter]

if you were burning antifreeze youd notice a lot of white smoke out of the tail pipes and your oil would be really milky

[dropped_71chevy]

ok I think i'm clear there, my oil still looks like oil and i'm not blowing any smoke

I think i'm gonna pull a quart and see what it looks like first before I totally blow off that idea

Thanks for all the help Hooter

[Longhorn Man]

Have you ruled out a leak from your thermostat housing?
You say there is coolant on your intake, the rest of it may be rollong off the back of the intake when you take off.

[dropped_71chevy]

I wiped off all the coolant off my intake and then started it up again then it pooled on the rear of the passenger side of the intake. I tightened down my intake and haven't had any problems

[old Rusty C10]

an intake needs to be properly TORQUED down make sure ya check your haynes/chilton manual and set it right in the proper order and ft pounds

[dropped_71chevy]

it's an edelbrock performer intake 25 ft/lbs of torque to tighten, some of the bolts are impossible to get to with a torque wrench so you have to play it by the seat of your pants.

[Cat Fuzz]

Originally posted by old Rusty C10
an intake needs to be properly TORQUED down make sure ya check your haynes/chilton manual and set it right in the proper order and ft pounds

I'd like to know how you get YOUR torque wrench on some of those bolts.

[cableguy0]

sbc chevy intakes are torqued by feel theres no way to accurately torque down all the bolts its pointless just go in sequence and dont crank down hard on em

[71chevylongbed]

Originally posted by Cat Fuzz



I'd like to know how you get YOUR torque wrench on some of those bolts.

just get a u-joint and an extension

[Longhorn Man]

Originally posted by 71chevylongbed
just get a u-joint and an extension

In reality, that would lead to inacurate torque readings.

[dmec]

have you checked your radiator cap? maybe it is weak and alowing the coolant to go out the overflow tube when it expands.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally posted by haystack71
I wiped off all the coolant off my intake and then started it up again then it pooled on the rear of the passenger side of the intake. I tightened down my intake and haven't had any problems

Why check the cap?

[cwilli84]

Also check the water outlet right where it comes off the intake dome to the nipple area I had it cracked but near invisible to the eye. It was a cheap aluminum chromed job so I put a good cast piece on.