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Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) coolant noise?

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I have this noise anytime I take off and when I first start my truck. It sounds like all my coolant is pouring into the Heater Core. It started this last winter, but only did it at first start up, didn't do it during the summer, and now it's cold again and does it all the time. I believe the radiator cap is bad, if that would help at all. Thanks in advance
 
I can't seem to figure it out myself. One of my co-workers said it was from the block heater getting it to hot, and mine corrolates with that. Check your overflow resivour (sp?) and make sure you have some in there to be droawn back in when it cools is my only thought.



Troy
 
I had a guy tell me it could be weak water pump or bad fin on the water pump, small leak in headgasket, or heater core? Does anyone know if there is a check valve on the inlet side of the heater core? That is what would make the most since to me. Thanks
 
There's another post today on the same subject, one suggestion was to see once the truck is up to operating temps if there's bubbles in the coolant tank. If so replace the head gasket. I use my block heater and hear the sounds in my heater when I first start up in the morning as well. I sure hope it's a simple fix.
 
I'm betting its pretty normal if you use the block heater. I have had mine do this as well and didn't have a bad HG. I think the heater may be putting off little bubbles that must put some air into the system or something. It sounds like a little waterfall in the dash for a few moments on first cold start up.
 
I thought I was the only one. the first time i heard it was late at night when leaving work the first "cold" day down here in GA this year. I thought when I flicked the lights on I would have a floor board full of coolant. Thankfully I didn't.
 
mine does it after it is warmed up as well. now it is doing it all the time unless i am revving up the engine or driving (it will do it on a 2000 rpm down shift or above as well). i checked my reservoir for air bubbles and there are none so that is a good sign. my heater also seems to not be working nearly as well. sometimes it is just luke warm (intermintent). i am leaning towards a pluged heater core or a bad water pump. what are your thoughts.
 
OK so i went to check some things and found oil in my coolant. as far as i can tell it is not in the oil though. no bubbles in my coolant reservoir and my oil pressure is fine (no change from the crappy factory gauge). has anybody had a oil cooler go bad and would that mabey be the culprit? i will put up a post on this as well cause i got a new problem that may not be related. thanks
 
Some years back, my coolant would gurgle now and again. This will almost always be due to low coolant; it may look full, but if the engine hasn't gotten fully up to operating temp, it may not push all the air out of itself. It may also be possible that it's related to a t-stat that doesn't open or open enough and allows the engine to get much too hot internally (like 230-240F), which could cause gurgling as the steam moves around.
 
I could swear I remember reading about this in the TDR magazine a few years ago. I think it's normal, my truck did it occaisionally, but I can't recall the cause.
 
I did a camshaft and had to really purge the air out of the 12v system. . took a few tries to get the waterfall dried up...
 
Mine makes that sound on a cold day when I leave work. It doesn't seem to do it after being in the garage all night. I've only used my block heater once in the 3 years I've had this truck. I never noticed the sound until after I changed the thermostat last summer. I'm thinking maybe I didn't get ALL the air out. My overflow tank stays full, but the truck never really gets all that hot. Maybe 194 max before the thermostat opens and then it runs 186-190. I'm gonna open the radiator cap when it's cold and top off the radiator directly if it's even a little low. I have no trace of oil or compression in my antifreeze.



EDIT 2/21: After my truck sat overnight, I removed the radiator cap and checked the coolant. It was not full to the top. I added somewhere around a quart of antifreeze. I'll report back on whether or not it makes any difference at all.
 
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Really doubt you are low in the radiator if the reservoir is full. Any air in the system is replaced with coolant when the engine cools.
 
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