ok, since i put in my NAPA thermostat the truck's temp will climb to 190-210* defore opening. this was installed 3 months ago.well, i just went to the store, came out with coolent everywhere ! let the truck cool. then looked around for the leak....looks like the radiator. check level...bottle is empty,but the radiator is full ( and with off-green sludge that wasnt there last year). anyhow i filled the bottle and drove home ( 15 miles ) with the thermo never going over 190* and hasent lost anymore coolant....i'm stumped on this because even if it overheated while in the store, why was it coming from the bottom of the radiator guess i finally lost it !!

Ryan

 

you do need a little air space in the radiatior for it to perform correctly. you probably after changing the t-stat had a little too much coolant.


from ask jeeves

Does the hot water take up more space than the cold water?
A: It sure does! As I said before, when you heat water from 40- to 180-degrees F, you wind up with about five percent more water than you started with. You have to have a place to put that "extra" water.

interestingly enough, frozen water takes up more space than water above 32*. take your ice cube tray, fill it 1/2 way to the top, freeze it, then check the level.

thats what "freeze plugs" are for.

also, pressure check your cap.

 

blood,sweat and tears....did what i can to save this truck

BUT, she's for sale after its fixed....97,686 miles .one owner, family freind bought new. ...i'm 31 and took care of her... NEVER obused

 

If it were me, I'd flush the cooling system and install a new thermostat (making sure I installed it correctly the first time.....the spring goes toward the engine and if there is a "weep hole" it goes up or at 12 oclock). If it was installed incorrectly, you could use it again because this time it will probably work if installed the right way.

Might be worth getting a new radiator cap.

Couldn't tell you why coolant is coming from the bottom of your radiator unless there is a drain hose of some sort down there.

Radiators do not need air space....that's what the overflow bottle is for...to catch the expanding fluid when hot and return the shrinking fluid when cool.

 

Coolant system is really easy to work with. Make sure you thermostat is still good. Take it back out and retest it in a boiling pot to see if it opens smoothly not in a sudden jerk. (sticking) Also the thermostat should start to open close to the mark temp on the bottom of the pellet. Check your raditor cap for function. I've seen alot of cap that have bad vacuum valves on them. When you hold your radiator cap in the mounted position does the lil' valve hang down or is the spring pulling the vavle closed? Really common problem. This will cause the pressure to by-bass the cap. How old is the anti-freeze too??? Might think about flushing the system completely...

 

thanks Mopar1973man, i will try that........dont recall ever flushing the system.

 

FIXED IT !!.........just needed to be flushed, boy do i feel like a dumd *** !

 

You might want to do it again in a few months.

 

Write this down...

Coolant Flush and Fill 36,000 or Every 36 Months

Really does help to do maintenance when it need it...