Losing Coolant

[sparks57]

I am losing about a quart of coolant every couple days or so and I can't figure out why. I looked at my hoses and the bottom (return?) line is a little moist on the bottom but I can't see it losing a quart from that. My water pump was replaced this winter. Could it be my head gasket? I just had my KDP end up in my oil pan (whew!) could that have caused something like this?

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Hey CB,



Are you checking your oil level regularly?? Do you notice it is higher than normal?? Just wondering if you have a leaky head gasket and are pushing some into the pan... .

What's the oil color like?? It will be "off" if this is happening. See any brownish sludge in the overflow bottle??



Give the truck a good look over... look all along the sides of the block for staining too... .



bob.



ps: I have some holy water from the church of acceleration, but that's not what you're looking for...

 

[sparks57]

Come to think of it... I did notice some odd white-ish looking stains on one side of the block.



Is it difficult to replace the head gasket. If the coolant is getting in the oil, is that really bad? I leave for college thursday, so this is a really bad time for something to go wrong!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

CB,



If the coolant is getting into the oil it definitely is not a good thing... depends on how much is getting in... . none would be the first choice but if some does get into the oil and it's a very small amount you can get by for a very short bit... till you can fix it. What happens is the engine heat/oil temp will boil or steam off the water. I would fix this right away or ASAP.



Don't howl at me you guys,,, that's a "tip" I got from an ole HD mech years ago when I had a head gasket go on me... . I don't like the idea either to be honest.....



CB, the head gasket on a 1st Gen is the easiest of them all to do. .

nothing in the way and wide open spaces to work in.

You will need to make sure and run some good oil thru it when you're done.....

The one thing we really need to know is... why did the gasket go in the first place... ?? right???... and confirm that is the problem first.



pastor bob...

 

[cerberusiam]

I got the same tip from an "ole HD mechanic". The problem is ethyl and methyl alcohol not glycol was used in a lot of the older anti-freezes and tis not the same beasty. Alcohol and water will burn off in small amounts, glycol blends with the oil and creates a nasty sludge that will eventually kill an engine. Considering the number of small spray ports on the pistons and their tendency to plug, any amount of anti-freeze in the oiling system is extremely detrimental. If you are getting any amount of coolant into the oil it will show up as a whitish sludge on the dipstick, oil fill cap, and probably the vent tube. Finding the problem and verifying it could save you lots of $$$$ on a new engine.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Hey,



I am GLAD you pointed that out... you're right on with the "small ports" too... the piston has nozzles for cooling with oil and they do plug real easy..... good catch cerberusiam





Bob.

 

[sparks57]

Took my truck to a diesel mechanic today and he pressure checke my coolant system. To much relief, the test uncovered a leak in my lower hose that was dripping as to not be obviouse.



Oh, and those whitish spots on my block were just dry spots...



False alarm. Oh well, I learned something though, and that's what's # 1 for us young guys.



Thanks.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Hey great news "CB... ... good to hear it's a baby sized issue for ya.....



Pastor Bob...

 

[Greenleaf]

Coolant Leakage

Had a cummins last school year in one of my busses that used up coolant. Could not locate it. Oil sampled came back clean. Turned out to be a heater hose. Was a lucky find. Could not spot any coolant on the engine/bus body.



Told you about the local farmer who ran his engine with a great big ole hole in the air intake..... Grinding feed with it so he did,inside the barn! Well now it would seem another tractor failed him... ... ... . . When the engine bearings seized, he found where all that coolant had leaked to:--)

Scott

 

[sparks57]

Interesting. I now have a new twist in my coolant saga. I have more than enough coolant, no leaks, and my engine still heats up in 4wd climbing hills, and real bad with A/C.



Now what? :{

 

[boatpuller]

Sounds like clutch fan not kicking in, when you're going faster enough air is moved over the radiator but when crawling in four wheel drive w/AC on there isn't enough air flow to remove the heat from the radiator.



Hope this helps, that's what i'd check first.



Happy Rammin,



Caleb

 

[Greenleaf]

Jever clean the radiator,inside/out?

 

[sparks57]

Every time I wash my truck I clean the radiator fins through the grill with a hose. I will check into the clutch fan and look at the radiator fins, maybe I don't clean it good enough.

 

[R.E. Miller]

Important point here guys regarding coolant in the oil and what really can happen. This is not wives tale time, or fudge from my mouth, this is the real deal Seriously, if you suspect that your engine has coolant in the oil, if you want it at all, stop, find the problem, fix it, and inspect your bearings. I work on cummins diesels daily, and will tell you that the sludge is a real big mess, but the worst case does not require sludge, it just needs the coolant. Coolant will even in small quanities, EAT the babbit material right down to the cooper on your bearings quick... ... not cool. Most head gasket failures that I have seen on "B" engines rarely have this issue, but cracked heads and blocks/freeze plug problems are typically where the oil and coolant start hanging out together



Another troubleshooting hint/hope it isn't your truck scenerio: Cracked block behind the tappet cover. Have seen this a few times, rare, but if you have coolant in the oil, and can't see where/how it is getting there, remove your fuel pump, and check behind the cover. Also, there are freeze plugs behind that cover, and on rare occasions, the can leak. Just FYI.



Russell