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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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combustion in the coolant?
I have gone through 2, TWO! cold case radiators in my Blazer. I have to give props to coldcase though, they sent one to replace the first one I purchase free of charge last october and that one started leaking today. I walked out to the driveway and it was leaking, hadnt even started it yet.
needless to say i am a bit pissed, called coldcase and they said take a pic of the serial number and the leak and they will send out another!! many props to them and their lifetime warranty. Now, the dude on the other end of the line told me that there could be "combustion" in the coolant? and that could be causing the pressure that is blowing the radiators apart. I personally, in all my years of being a home garage gearhead have never heard of that until today. He said that there wouldnt be the usual signs of water on the plugs or coming out the tailpipe but could be causing the pressure, said he had a 454 that was doing this. Said he changed the head gaskets and the problem went away. Can a head gasket be bad as to let combustion into the radiator and not into the cylinder ? |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Wenatchee, Wa
Posts: 910
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
The radiator cap should pop before the radiator fails.
If you have a bad head gasket it can pressurize the radiator, leak externally or both. Normally you should see a loss of coolant either way. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 2,545
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
2nd on the cap releasing pressure before the radiator splits. Get a new cap even if current one is fairly new. QC could have failed.
Could be possible that you have a small enough head gasket leak or crack to let combustion air into the water spaces but not water back into the cylinder. Once the fire lights, pressures get really high, hundreds if not into the low thousands of PSI. The max for the water should be the cap rating. Test run it with full water but cap off. If there is leakage, you should see bubbles in the radiator. Are the radiators leaking from the same spot? Maybe some assembly person needs a bit of additional training. Nice to hear that a company stands behind their products. |
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#4 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 2,193
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
Sounds lie the tech was referring to combustion gasses leaking into the coolant.
All agree this should force the radiator cap to reach max pressure and vent out excess. If the radiator is swelling before the cap releases, there must be something wrong with the radiator design or build. Are you mounting the radiator solid to the chassis? If so, perhaps the frame is flexing placing extra stress on the radiator. Here is a simple radiator test kit to check for combustion gas in the coolant. https://www.amazon.com/Block-Tester-...YaAuw0EALw_wcB ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Family and country before all others... 2006 Chevy Silverado (Daily Driver) 2012 Chevy Equinox ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#5 | |
Born Psycho
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: brentwood,cal,usa
Posts: 4,881
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jerry moss 72 cheyenne super K20- tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,tow hooks,bumper guards,toolbox,aux. fuel tank,posi front and rear,plus other goodies!!! SOLD 69 suburban K20-tilt,tach,vacuum,speedwarning,buckets,shoulder belts,am/fm,4 inch all spring lift,4 speed, 14 bolt full floater, dana 44 HD,warn winch,posi front and rear,tow hooks,plus other goodies. 73/80 chevy/gmc K20 SB400,turbo 400,205,tilt,a-c,gas hog. 77 K/5 cheyenne blazer-daily driver/beater. SON HAS IT NOW BRENTWOOD,CALIFORNIA |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
I agree totally but, don't you think that even if the cap was bad that it would be forced open before blowing out the radiator?
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
Quote:
Here is my radiator... https://www.coldcaseradiators.com/pr...?sku=GMT558ALS The radiator sets on rubber on the bottom and the clamps at the top also have rubber in them. This is in a 1972 K5 Blazer with a 2000 LS1 swap. Thanks for the test tool link What cap would you suggest for this radiator and set up? this is my first LS so im in the dark as what to get. |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Wenatchee, Wa
Posts: 910
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
I prefer the Stant brand 16 lb cap.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
ok.
So, now, worst case scenario, lets say I have to yank the heads and do new gaskets, what is the best gasket rebuild kit out there for a turbo im going to put on it next year? obviously i will have to have them milled to clean them up if this is the case |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 2,042
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
When I do LS swap into whatever I like to mount the radiator with the rubber u-saddles top and bottom not "L" brackets welded on the side tanks. Pic of my 68 using a generic LS Afco dual pass radiator.
Having said that on my LS6 swapped 98 Wrangler the radiator is a side mount but has a rubber insulator between the mount and the tanks. No issues for 15 years. See pic. |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
One more thing, could not "burping" the system correctly cause all this pressure?
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Mocksville, NC
Posts: 1,747
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
I also had my first Cold Case radiator leak after 6 months on my LS swap. It was leaking where the fins attach to the right side tank. I have mine set up with traditional coolant and an overflow tank. Coolant level in the overflow goes up/down as it should, so I'm pretty confident my cap is working fine. As with your situation, Cold Case sent me a no hassle replacement radiator. I feel like this may be more of a manufacture defect than combustion pressure in the cooling system.
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Builds: Green Gus the 68 C10 ; Sullii the 72 1500 - Instagram: @dr.hewitt - C10 Concept/Development Photos: Master Thread |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 531
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
Their radiators are junk. I went through 2 of them on my truck in 2 years. My brother has gone through 4 in 5 years. They all start to leak where the tubes go into the header, exactly like hewittca is showing above. I bought a custom radiator for my truck and have had no issues at all.
They do not even ask you to return the old radiator anymore. Get rid of the ColdCase and buy a quality radiator. Problem solved. |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Wenatchee, Wa
Posts: 910
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
I have had a Champion radiator in the 68 for 6 years and never had an issue.
It wasn't expensive, fits perfect and works well. I did add a zinc plug instead of a petcock to help with any potential electrolysis issues. Last edited by MySons68C20; 05-11-2024 at 02:56 PM. Reason: Missing info |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 2,042
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
I've used Griffin, Afco, and Be Cool radiators. Never an issue. The one in my Jeep I bought from Novak out of Logan UT. The make/supply Jeep swap parts. I believe they get them from Griffin. They buy the bare radiator and then they fab the side mounts.
My latest project is a 80 Camaro with a LS swap. I'm using a generic LS Be Cool radiator. Biggest I could fit. |
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 531
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
Quote:
Mine is Power Cool Manufacturing radiator. I was shocked how heavy it was for an aluminum radiator. Mine is an L83 so I wanted the inlet/outlet and the drivers side for a dual pass instead of the LS style on passenger side. |
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#19 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
Quote:
Great idea on selling it when it gets here ![]() |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: castle rock CO
Posts: 24
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
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#21 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lewisville, Nc
Posts: 10,234
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Re: combustion in the coolant?
i used a griffin rad lasted 2.5 years only 1k miles the warranty was 2 years, got a cold case with fans made it4 year beofre leaking at both side tanks had a bit of a chore getting it warrantied, becasue i was not told had to register the warannty it they finally where able to find my original order cost me like 30 dollars shipping for a new one, only problem was they no long put the trans cooler in it anymore i was sooooo mad, they claim every core is welded but i feel they they are doing like others and using an epoxy to seal the cores and its breaking down. i dont have high hope on the new lasting but i will gkeep warranting them as long as they let me
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