Possible Coolant System Problem? December 22, 2009, 08:16:41 AM So in the midst of fixing my vacuum leak preventing my heater from switching out of defrost, I came across something unusual. I ran the car for a little while before I did anything and I drained out the radiator, because I knew I had to take of the heater core hoses. I checked the radiator before I drained it and it was full, right to the brim. I drained it out, and there is only enough to fill a 2 litter soda bottle. I figured at first, no big deal theres probably coolant in the lines and so forth, but when I disconnected the heater core lines none came out.I know the radiator isn't clogged, I can see circulation with the cap off. So is there a major air pocket in the system? Why would only a little antifreeze come out? I know that it doesn't leak, and its not in the oil or anything like that.Looking for ideas really, the coolant gauge always stays around 3/4 and sometimes goes up to just before red. I don't put much faith in the gauge, but there could be something wrong here... Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #1 – December 22, 2009, 02:19:40 PM Quote from: jpc647;303530So in the midst of fixing my vacuum leak preventing my heater from switching out of defrost, I came across something unusual. I ran the car for a little while before I did anything and I drained out the radiator, because I knew I had to take of the heater core hoses. I checked the radiator before I drained it and it was full, right to the brim. I drained it out, and there is only enough to fill a 2 litter soda bottle. I figured at first, no big deal theres probably coolant in the lines and so forth, but when I disconnected the heater core lines none came out.I know the radiator isn't clogged, I can see circulation with the cap off. So is there a major air pocket in the system? Why would only a little antifreeze come out? I know that it doesn't leak, and its not in the oil or anything like that.Looking for ideas really, the coolant gauge always stays around 3/4 and sometimes goes up to just before red. I don't put much faith in the gauge, but there could be something wrong here...Out of curiosity, this is the 5.0, right? How's the head gaskets...cracked block or head(s)? Leaks? Have a t-stat in it?SOmething opened up and caused that coolant to go either in the engine like it should, or else like it shouldn't, and it got burned...The ONLY times I ever saw circulation in the radiator when it was full was when the headgasket was bad, or there was a cracked head... Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #2 – December 22, 2009, 04:49:55 PM Yes its a 5.0 out of an 87 tbird. I think the head gaskets are fine, I mean it never blows smoke or anything, its only got 70 something thousand miles. Car does not seem to leak antifreeze. It has an unusual leak from the valve cover bolt(one of them) and I can't seem to figure it out. Other than that nothing to speak of.With the radiator full, why would there normally be no circulation? I mean with the cap off I can look at the veins in the rad, and if i rev it a little i can see it come out through those vein things. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #3 – December 22, 2009, 07:28:17 PM Sorry Freeek, but on a healthy engine, with the cap off and the T-stat OPEN, you should be able to see the coolant moving. (Obviously you shouldn't try this after just filling it, as you will get excess coolant bubbling out.) Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #4 – December 22, 2009, 07:58:16 PM Quote from: jrad235;303602Sorry Freeek, but on a healthy engine, with the cap off and the T-stat OPEN, you should be able to see the coolant moving. (Obviously you shouldn't try this after just filling it, as you will get excess coolant bubbling out.)Thats kinda what I thought too. hmmm Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #5 – December 22, 2009, 08:58:42 PM The engine is full of water in the passages as well as the heater core.There's a lot of your water. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #6 – December 22, 2009, 09:36:02 PM Yes, the heater core hoses will generally drain back into the block once the water level goes down, and unless you pull the lower rad hose, that water doesn't always drain through the rad. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #7 – December 22, 2009, 10:39:36 PM your radiator only has two tanks,, left and right.draining the rad one produce the amount you think all of the time. the lower hose will drain some as well as the rad itself but if a full gal came out, id be surprised. a lot more resides in the block than you think. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #8 – December 23, 2009, 03:22:43 AM In the other thread you put that it takes forever for your car to warm up, but here your guage reads high? Is the heater warm, or does it stay cold?I had similar problems, and my t-stat was broken. The flat part that goes to the gasket was still there, but the parts that flex and open were not. I dug out of the lower radiator hose. Now I had the engine warm with a 192 degree t-stat after about 2 minutes of driving. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #9 – December 23, 2009, 03:37:06 AM Hmmm, I dunno...maybe on mine, I didn't wait for the t-stat to open...dunno.My Escort GT DID swirl coolant..and a lot, I may add, even to the point of it running out the cap if it was off...this was when the hg went on it. Didn't do it after I tore into it and fixed a buncha stuff.For starters I'd look into the T-stat...and bleed the system but good, and see what the result is. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #10 – December 23, 2009, 04:20:34 PM Quote from: Haystack;303655In the other thread you put that it takes forever for your car to warm up, but here your guage reads high? Is the heater warm, or does it stay cold?.Which thread? The heater only blows luke warm. It seems to not change much if I slide the temperature control lever around. I checked the device inside the dash and it seems to have a ful range of movement. I have had a few probems with the gauge saying the car is overheating and what not, but its not. I know its because of something after the 3.8 to 5.0 engine swap. I am not sure what. I've pretty much tried everything I can think of, and then resigned myself to the fact the gauge is inaccuarate. When I drained the anti freeze and only a little came out, I kinda thought maybe this could be a culprit to the problem. If not, not a big deal i gues. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #11 – December 23, 2009, 09:52:17 PM Quote from: jpc647;303530So in the midst of fixing my vacuum leak preventing my heater from switching out of defrost, I came across something unusual. I ran the car for a little while before I did anything and I drained out the radiator, because I knew I had to take of the heater core hoses. I checked the radiator before I drained it and it was full, right to the brim. I drained it out, and there is only enough to fill a 2 litter soda bottle.Do you remember how much coolant you put in when you filled it?Should hold about 3½ gallons if it was completely dry.Is it possible no coolant ever got into the engine block?The t-stat should not be an airtight seal when it is closed. The air has to escape as the block fills up from the bottom.The bleed hole is small and can be clogged with crud.You could take the t-stat out and fill it up. Then warm the engine by putting a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator to see if that makes a difference. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #12 – December 24, 2009, 02:34:51 AM I'm not sure which other thread, it was in the last couple of days or so. On my car, my heater sucks right before my car starts to overheat. When I first got it, I had many leaks, but lived less then 2 miles from my work. I probably drove it for more then 1 year without any coolant in it before I figured out that something was wrong.I had many leaks, a bad waterpump, a bad radiator, a bad thermostat, and a bad heater core. Since you have done the heater core, check everything else while you have it able to drive. The t-stat will probably take almost as long as the heater if you leave everything hooked up. Check all of your hoses and make sure you have no leaks. i thought I had all of mine fixed a couple of times, and I only now think I really have it licked. Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #13 – December 24, 2009, 02:35:59 AM oh, you should probably get the proper setup for your coolant temperature. Would the old 3.8 sensor work? Quote Selected
Possible Coolant System Problem? Reply #14 – December 24, 2009, 03:06:21 AM The 3.8 sensor made it redline on the temp gauge in about a minute. I bought a replacement gauge specified for an 87 5.0 without electronic cluster and it did the same. It would peg, and never come back down.I did check for leaks when I did the motor swap, I don't see any. I can look again though. All the hoses were good too.Just to test if the car was really on the verge of overheating, I've driven it with cardboard in front of the radiator to make it a little hotter, but nothing. It never overheats. I've driven it 2 hours on the highway and nothing. I dunno, its seems like it has to some sort of an error of somekind. Maybe the t-start is only partially opening? I dunno, I'll screw with that on a day thats not sooo cold. One of those bolts on that housing is just such a PITA on the 5.0... Quote Selected
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