| Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:18  |
verg
Messages: 54
Registered: September 2006
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Karma: 0
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Dear Friends,
An off topic request for ideas/thoughts on a puzzling coolant issue.
My youngest son has a beat up '91 Ford Ranger 6 Cyl. It is throwing coolant. No hoses *appear* to be ruptured. Overflow tank is filled to the cold fill line. Twice now, he has coming home (when I was not home of course) with "smoke" (I am guessing steam) coming from the under the hood and water dripping on the ground.
The thermostat was changed out last week as a "maybe this will fix it" by the local shop. They found no leaks but did wonder if the coolant was blowing past the lower hose . . .
The previously full radiator is now 2/3 full.
There is coolant all over the top of the engine, air clearer, etc.
The water pump is not squealing.
The water pump does not *seem* to be leaking.
 Any ideas?
With Thanks,
John
John Novicki
near Gettysburg, Pa
Looking for Glenbrook Yellow Plaid Material
'75 Glenbrook 26' "Bumble"
'86 300SL
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249541 is a reply to message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:23  |
Otterwan
Messages: 946
Registered: July 2013
Location: Lynnwood (north of Seattl...
Karma: 0
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Check the bleed hole at the bottom of the water pump. Look fro rust trails indicating coolant leak. You can lose a tone of coolant without any apparent pump noise.
1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249542 is a reply to message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:31 |
cbryan
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
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With respect to the leaking coolant - I just replaced some nice looking coolant hoses on a small block chevrolet engine on a 65 passenger bus. The symptoms were the same as yours. I found a leak in the block end of the coolant hose returning from the bottom of the radiator. The hose looked good, except where it mated to the water pump on the engine it was swelling. There was a small hole in the hose next to the inlet to the water pump. I think the hotter engine end deteriorated the hose quicker than the coolant already cooled returning to the engine from the lower radiator connection. Anyway, put a new one on, and all was well. Surprised me. I could make it leak more or less by moving the hose around a bit when still warm, but beware of scalding. HTH.
Carey
Carey from Ennis, Texas
78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249544 is a reply to message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:45 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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verg wrote on Mon, 12 May 2014 18:18Dear Friends,
An off topic request for ideas/thoughts on a puzzling coolant issue.
My youngest son has a beat up '91 Ford Ranger 6 Cyl. It is throwing coolant. No hoses *appear* to be ruptured. Overflow tank is filled to the cold fill line. Twice now, he has coming home (when I was not home of course) with "smoke" (I am guessing steam) coming from the under the hood and water dripping on the ground.
The thermostat was changed out last week as a "maybe this will fix it" by the local shop. They found no leaks but did wonder if the coolant was blowing past the lower hose . . .
The previously full radiator is now 2/3 full.
There is coolant all over the top of the engine, air clearer, etc.
The water pump is not squealing.
The water pump does not *seem* to be leaking.
Any ideas?
With Thanks,
John
I would replace the radiator cap in case it is building up too much pressure. Then I'm suspicious of the water pump since any leak or water escaping past the seal will be flung back by the pully.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249545 is a reply to message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:45 |
verg
Messages: 54
Registered: September 2006
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Karma: 0
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Member |
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Thank you for these suggestions.
I failed to mention that it has new radiator - replaced within the last 2 months.
I was thinking to replace the water pump and hoses. What else could it be??
John Novicki
near Gettysburg, Pa
Looking for Glenbrook Yellow Plaid Material
'75 Glenbrook 26' "Bumble"
'86 300SL
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249547 is a reply to message #249545] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 19:53 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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verg wrote on Mon, 12 May 2014 18:45Thank you for these suggestions.
I failed to mention that it has new radiator - replaced within the last 2 months.
I was thinking to replace the water pump and hoses. What else could it be??
I would try to get it hot--possibly by blocking radiator air flow and watch to see what happens. I wouldnn't start replacing parts yet.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249554 is a reply to message #249544] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 20:24 |
verg
Messages: 54
Registered: September 2006
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Karma: 0
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The radiator cap *is* hard to get off. You really have to press down to get it to turn ... never thought of that ... well, that's why I asked the folks on the forum. I have soooo much to learn.
I will add checking the cap
Thank you
Bob de Kruyff wrote on Mon, 12 May 2014 20:45verg wrote on Mon, 12 May 2014 18:18Dear Friends,
An off topic request for ideas/thoughts on a puzzling coolant issue.
My youngest son has a beat up '91 Ford Ranger 6 Cyl. It is throwing coolant. No hoses *appear* to be ruptured. Overflow tank is filled to the cold fill line. Twice now, he has coming home (when I was not home of course) with "smoke" (I am guessing steam) coming from the under the hood and water dripping on the ground.
The thermostat was changed out last week as a "maybe this will fix it" by the local shop. They found no leaks but did wonder if the coolant was blowing past the lower hose . . .
The previously full radiator is now 2/3 full.
There is coolant all over the top of the engine, air clearer, etc.
The water pump is not squealing.
The water pump does not *seem* to be leaking.
Any ideas?
With Thanks,
John
I would replace the radiator cap in case it is building up too much pressure. Then I'm suspicious of the water pump since any leak or water escaping past the seal will be flung back by the pully.
John Novicki
near Gettysburg, Pa
Looking for Glenbrook Yellow Plaid Material
'75 Glenbrook 26' "Bumble"
'86 300SL
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| Re: [GMCnet] Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249556 is a reply to message #249540] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 20:39 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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There is this
http://gmcws.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/Listen_to_your_GMC-by-Gene-Fisher.pdf
But you have a leak into the cooling system
Erf
On Monday, May 12, 2014, John Novicki wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
> An off topic request for ideas/thoughts on a puzzling coolant issue.
>
> My youngest son has a beat up '91 Ford Ranger 6 Cyl. It is throwing
> coolant. No hoses *appear* to be ruptured. Overflow tank is filled to the
> cold
> fill line. Twice now, he has coming home (when I was not home of course)
> with "smoke" (I am guessing steam) coming from the under the hood and water
> dripping on the ground.
>
> The thermostat was changed out last week as a "maybe this will fix it" by
> the local shop. They found no leaks but did wonder if the coolant was
> blowing past the lower hose . . .
>
> The previously full radiator is now 2/3 full.
>
> There is coolant all over the top of the engine, air clearer, etc.
>
> The water pump is not squealing.
>
> The water pump does not *seem* to be leaking.
>
> :) Any ideas?
>
> With Thanks,
>
> John
> --
> John Novicki
> near Gettysburg, Pa
>
> '75 Glenbrook 26'
>
> '73 ex-Glacier 26' soon going to the desert
>
> '39/'46 Austin 8 Van needs new home
> http://www.replications.com/austin8/Austin8Van_1of9.jpg
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: Off Topic - Non GMC - sage advice requested - coolant loss [message #249565 is a reply to message #249549] |
Mon, 12 May 2014 21:56 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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mrgmc3 wrote on Mon, 12 May 2014 20:06A cooling system pressure tester would lead you to the culprit in about 2 min;
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002SRGWU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1399942978&sr=1-1&pi=SX200_QL40
Well, you suggested that same thing I was going to suggest. But before you do this with the tester, check or replace the hose between the overflow bottle and the radiator. If that hose is loose or cracked the cooling when heated up will expand the coolant and force the excess coolant into the overflow bottle. The when the system later cools down it will suck air back into the system through the loose connection or crack in the hose. If that does not do it, replace the cap. They are very cheap.
After the above two items get a radiator pressure tester and on a cold engine pump up the system to the limit of the installed radiator cap. This is usually around 15 PSI on modern cars. Watch the gage and see if it is leaking down. While it is under pressure, start looking for leaks. Check every hose, the radiator, and the hole in the water pump and around the intake manifold.
You can buy a pressure tester at Harbor Freight or borrow one from O'reilly or Auto Zone auto parts.
With the tester you should be able to find a leak in under 5 minutes. If you buy one be sure it comes with the correct adapter for your radiator.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=Radiator+Pressure
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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