Coolant issues, radiator level rose and spilled WTF???

[bot0611]

Had the stereo on for a while so i started the truck so i didnt end up with a dead battery and when under the truck i noticed some coolant on the floor, suth the engine off tood the radiator cap off turn the engine on and noticed the coolant level started rising...and eventully spilled coolant. i tapped the water oulet housing on the manifold and the coolant started flowing again.

Why the level started rising??

 

[4xcrazy]

they'll do that until they get heated up and pressurized, sounds like you don't have the recovery tank hooked up, or it's totally full, which it souldn't be.

 

[bot0611]

i do have a recovery tank and empty, but never seen this happen before on my truck, maybe a bad rad cap is the problem.

 

[K85 Octane]

when my truck did this.....

it turned out to be either a cracked cylinder head or bad gasket (I say either cause never looked hard, sh1tcanned the engine)
cause coolant was getting into cylinder when it was off, and exhaust was getting into cooling system when it was on. It would pressurize the system and overflow the tank. When you shut it off, because the system has more pressure than the cylinder, it leaks back into that cylinder. It doesn't always go back though.

or it could be a cap, t stat maybe, dunno

 

[bot0611]

Dude, you should of started lightly with the t-stat and the cap

 

[K85 Octane]

lol, the entire cooling system was replaced when I got the truck, just for reassurance. Had problems, tore it down, found 4 shot glasses of coolant in #7 cylinder, along with a 2 bolt main 30over block that was in such piss poor condition.....it was recycled.

 

[4xcrazy]

you say "2 bolt main" like it's a bad thing...

 

[K85 Octane]

you say "2 bolt main" like it's a bad thing...

just saying, for what was lying around my uncles shop, it would be a waste rebuilding it. 400sb, 9:1, vortec heads all just sitting around.
But back to the OP's concerns. Have you trying anything yet? Have you changed anything recently? Has it always ran without anything in the bottle? Cause it really should be at the mark. Fill it with the engine running and you're heater on. I've heard running the heater, not sure if it pertains to these trucks too as I see fluid coming from the heater hoses into the radiator anyway.

Where did the leak come from? If you have a bottle and it's empty, any movement through the cap should go there. Just throwing crap out there.

 

[bot0611]

Ive always runned it like it is


No heather!!!


Havent tryed anything yet, i will change the t-stat tomorrow and see whats happens

 

[4xcrazy]

again, if you had the cap ON, and you saw coolant on the ground, then yes, find out where it's coming from, possibly the cap being bad, check the rubber gasket on it, i have had a few go bad over the years and when the system gets pressurized, or starts to, it will leak.

now, when you remove the cap with it running, if it's not up to normal operating temp, and the cap is off, the water will rise and spill out somewhat, not usually all of it, but some will until the t-stat opens.

always check the hose pressure btw before removing the radiator cap, if it's tight, firm, do not remove the cap fast at all, it can be removed, but has to be done slowly to release the pressure slowly.


anyways.......