Archived Cooling Problems

[dbryant]

This is a non - diesel question.



I am at my wits end.



Wed. last week I blew the top radiator hose on my 454SS chevy truck. After replacing that, I was on my way to work the next morning and blew the small piece of heater hose that runs between the Water pump and the block. I replaced that one too.



Yesterday, my radiator that was recored a year and a half ago split on the side where the core meets the tank.



I bought a brand new radiator yesterday.



NOW this morning on my way to work, I just blew another peice of heater hose that runs from the Throttle body to the water neck.

ARGHHHH!!



I had spare heater hose and water so I got it fixed enought to get me to work, BUT



I want to know what would cause such a build up of pressure?



Or is it just bum luck that all these are going at once?



I'm running a 160 degree thermostat and it does open properly if anyone is going to ask.



Thanks for all replies in advance.



Don

 

[GWHaley]

cooling problem

Maybe head gasket or just a faulty radiator cap?

 

[dbryant]

Could be a head gasket I guess, I just put a new radiator cap on yesterday.

 

[willyslover]

let it warm do you see bubbles in the radiator with cap off ?. . head gasket would be my guess also. . be careful as it looking for the weakest point... might blow heater core next [they are a PIA to replace and a little too pricey ]

 

[Partyat33]

Autozone has free loaner tools. They have tool that can measure the pressure of your radiator. Simple to use.





Dennis

 

[dbryant]

I'll give that a try.

 

[Extreme1]

See if you can measure the cap too. That's what the evidence is pointing to. Not all new parts are good.

 

[MKresch]

sounds like the cap is faulty, the cap is supposed to open and let coolant out to the overflow tank so the system does not build up pressure and blow the system.

 

[dbryant]

I'm going down to NAPA today and will get a new radiator cap.



I did not find any presence of coolant in the oil, or vise verse.



I guess I should do a compression check, but I'll wait and see if the cap takes care of the problem.



Thanks to everyone who replied so quickly.



What a week!



Don

 

[Joe Mc]

Ditto on the heater core-I'd disconnect the hoses and install a by-pass hose till you figure it out. Try adapt an air hose fitting that will fit your spark-plug hole. With the rad cap off and filled to the top remove all your spark plugs and start at # 1 cyl applying about 70 - 100 psi to each cyl. Once you get bubbles at the radiator this should verify if it's a head gasket. MHO sounds like a head gasket. An easier way to check would be: prior to the first start of the day check hoses to see if they are soft enough to squeeze by hand - they should be. start up engine and monitor hoses if they get hard shortly after start up it's more than likely a head gasket. Those 454 head are pretty heavy too. Hope this helps a bit.



Good luck.