WEIRD happenings in the radiator

[dpuckett]

Got Mom's pump and injectors back from the shop today, and got them installed and the truck running just fine, so I went for a test drive. Temp gauge moved a little bit, and I thought, "oh yeah, heat. " Much to my dismay, it was A/C without running the compressor. I drove it a couple miles mroe, and noticed the temp gauge running up to the third line (just right of center). "Huh, last time it did that was on the way to Bailey Colo pulling an overloaded 10K box trailer in August '00. " I turned around to go home, and it got warmer and warmer- up to almost the last thin line on the gauge. Still blowing cold air. Got back home, and put it in PARK, and popped the hood. Nothing EXCEPTIONALLY warm on the engine, but noticed the radiator cap was ice cold, literally. Removed it carefully, and nothing came out. Noticed foam of some sort- kinda dark green, about the consistency of the ice cream when it foams in a Root Beer Float. Foam settled down, and I had a snow cone under the foam. . When I dig through the slush ,there is water/ liquid about 4" down. I am thinking some oil mixing in there? Cooling system was completely flushed and replaced with new coolant (Wal Mart brand, looks awfully similar to Prestone) in October 05. I'm thinking oil cooler, maybe head gasket? No water or signs thereof on either dipstick with engine running.



I'm limping it to the shop tomorrow AM, and putting it into an empty bay to let it thaw and go from there. Supposed to get to a balmy 10deg tonight (cold for here, but if I didnt say "balmy" MMiller would be whining about feeding cows in an open station 4010 in 20 below )



Daniel

 

[MMiller]

Now I wasn't whining at all, it was Pete that was whining that it was too cold to go out and measure his truck for me! Whining about the weather is like whining to my wife, doesn't do any good! Oh yeah, the temp right now is hovering around 0*F.



Michael

 

[DBF]

Strictly a guess, but it sounds like your antifreeze lost some of its "anti" and you froze a big plug of water in the top of the radiator.



You drove it, but there was no water/antifreeze flowing anywhere due to the plug. Sounds like the plug had mostly melted thru (down to 4" thick) by when you stopped.



I'd go to the shop like you're doing and drain the antifreeze. Unless you find real signs of oil in it, I'd just replace it with mixture good to -38*F and run it around for a while. Stop & look at it every now & then. If it stays the same color, I think you're ok.



Regards, DBF

 

[TBurow]

had the same problem, not strong enough antifreeze, plugged in block heater for several hours, drained most of the coolant and replaced with straight antifreeze and have had no problems since. been over a month

 

[Niki]

I had the same problem with walmart brand coolant in a Mustang of mine, could have sworn I put enough concentration antifreeze in too! The radiator started to freeze, I immediately got it into the garage and popped the pipe plugs out of either side of the motor and drained the coolant/slush. Prestone looks nothing like Walmart to me, the prestone seems to have a thicker consistency when full strength, also its lighter green. I don't buy it anymore, saving a couple of bucks on coolant isn't worth ruining a radiator, pushing a freeze plug, or cracking a motor.

 

[DVolk]

I never had any problems with walmart or any store brand antifreeze



we had a 64 chevy once that the antifreeze got a littel slushy but didnt break any thing



But what does have problems is useing the premixed antifreeze , i never buy premixed stuff all its designed to do is add water to the system .



Its better to buy strait antifreeze no mater what brand then add water or the premixed stuff .



Then add a rust inhibitor or a cup full of good water solubale oil to the system , this is cutting oil ,basicly , not bar oil , but machine cutting oil designed to mix with water as is dispates in water .



This is what i do around here on the farm and what my Dad did for 30 years being a automotive Radaitor repair man and automotive AC mechanic ,on top of being a regular mechanic

 

[JLEONARD]

I would also tend to believe it is a weak concentration of antifreeze and you slushed up the system.

Hopefully nothing froze solid and expanded and broke something.

Take some of the slush, let it warm up and do a test with a floaty antifreeze tester and see what it tells you.

Around here we mix 50/50 for protection to -34 F

 

[dpuckett]

Michael, I was only kidding you. Believe it or not, I actually miss HAVING to go out in the cold and feed. Beats having the critters (2 dogs) inside all the time. Plus, it makes the house feel nice and toasty.



Niki- the Wal Mart stuff is no longer green- it is more neon yellow. I am going to get some Prestone, or whatever is silicate free/low silicate. I figured if the oil met the same specs as the name brand, then the antifreeze would have been good enough. Havent had any problems in my other trucks with it.



I failed to mention (thought is was a duh-ism) that I used distilled water.



DP

 

[PToombs]

Don't mix it too much past 50/50. Too much antifreeze and you will burn up the block heater. Plug it in tonite, check it before you start it. The radiator still might slush plugged in. After you test it If it's not low enough, I would dump it, then add 2 qts of straight a/f, then 50/50 from there. That should take care of anything in the block too.

 

[dpuckett]

There's more......

I got a look at it in the daylight today, and after getting the sludge burped out, the stuff looked like chocolate milk. Christina says that is classic oil in the antifreeze. No a/f apparent in the oil, thankfully. May do an oil change anyway just to be safe. So it looks like I will be testing it out Monday. Looks like oil cooler or head gasket time.



PToombs- it WAS plugged in all day when I put the fuel system back on. But I got it liquefied today, and I added some straight a/f (~1/2 gallon). That;s when I discovered the muddy mess.



DP

 

[The patriot]

I had the same thing happen to me about 15 years ago in an old dodge van.

I pulled off the parkway, and by the time I found a pay phone it was thawed.

I was lucky.

It was not enough antifreeze in the coolant.

 

[THeske]

There should be nothing wrong with the Walmart anti-freeze, Just make sure that when you buy it that it's not already the pre mixed stuff ( it's already mixed at 50/50 )

So if you add more water your making it weaker yet, Up here in Alberta the recommended mixture is 60/40 anti-freeze/water, If its froze up and you can't get the antifreeze stronger make sure the truck is plugged in so you don't start popping frost plugs or worse cracking the block or head, If there is oil in the water some damage may be done already, change everything oil/antifreeze and start from cratch while observing the out come of the anti freeze, remember oil is lighter than water and won't mix well so just shut the engine of and let sit for a few minutes if there oil in the anti-freeze it will float to the top giving you a better indication as to whats wrong, keep a real close eye on the oil level to see if it goes down, the oil pressure runs higher than the pressures created in your radiator so its not a whole lot likely you will get anti-freeze in the oil but I have seen it happen if the block cracked, so watch both for cross contamination

 

[dpuckett]

The thing leaks oil like a seive, so any oil going into the antifreeze wont be noticeable in the grand scheme of things. (Hillbilly who rebuilt the transmission installed the rear main and said it wasnt leaking real bad, but failed to check the cam plug Not looking forward to pulling the transmission for something that should be ok by now. I'd almost bet he installed it wet, even though it says right on the seal to "install dry").



Thanks guys.



DP