Overheating Help

[DonHo32]

Ok so I waited until I ran several tests and searched for a similar problem before I asked. Here is my issue.
After about 60 to 80 miles (even at night) or sitting at idle for 30 minutes my coolant starts to bleed over into the overflow tank. The rad never pulls this fluid back so eventually I begin to overheat as it continues to add to the overflow. Compression is right on, no water in the oil, the rad has clean fluid no exhaust or gas smell, and the truck runs perfect (21psi). The T-stat is new and I even took it out to try that. The cap is new and there is no apparent leakage from the WP which seems to be flowing well. The motor has about 6k on this fresh build and never had this problem until I switched to a new turbo and 65# inj. The rad is an aluminum Bee Cool and I have twin Flex-A-Lite fans (which have been on there the whole time).
Any other ideas? Intake manifold gasket? This is frustrating.

 

[Bill Z]

Re: Overheating Help

Ok so I waited until I ran several tests and searched for a similar problem before I asked. Here is my issue.
After about 60 to 80 miles (even at night) or sitting at idle for 30 minutes my coolant starts to bleed over into the overflow tank. The rad never pulls this fluid back so eventually I begin to overheat as it continues to add to the overflow. Compression is right on, no water in the oil, the rad has clean fluid no exhaust or gas smell, and the truck runs perfect (21psi). The T-stat is new and I even took it out to try that. The cap is new and there is no apparent leakage from the WP which seems to be flowing well. The motor has about 6k on this fresh build and never had this problem until I switched to a new turbo and 65# inj. The rad is an aluminum Bee Cool and I have twin Flex-A-Lite fans (which have been on there the whole time).
Any other ideas? Intake manifold gasket? This is frustrating.

I had a 1 year old thermostat go bad so check your thermostat (probably cheap enough to just replace). To check it you will have to remove it and place it in a pan of water. Bring the water to the temp of the thermostat (using a thermometer). The thermostat should open around the temperature it is rated.

Also check the small hose going from your radiator to your overflow. If the hose has any breaks or cracks, it won’t return your coolant. Keep in mind that there isn’t any pressure in that hose so it may not show a leak but it will draw air through the crack in the hose before it will draw water (water is 800 times more dense than air).

I hope some of this helps you.

 

[DonHo32]

Re: Overheating Help

I had a 1 year old thermostat go bad so check your thermostat (probably cheap enough to just replace). To check it you will have to remove it and place it in a pan of water. Bring the water to the temp of the thermostat (using a thermometer). The thermostat should open around the temperature it is rated.

Also check the small hose going from your radiator to your overflow. If the hose has any breaks or cracks, it won’t return your coolant. Keep in mind that there isn’t any pressure in that hose so it may not show a leak but it will draw air through the crack in the hose before it will draw water (water is 800 times more dense than air).

I hope some of this helps you.

Thanks for the input. Good point on the return hose. I will check that. The t-stat has been changed and totally removed and it does the same thing. So I really dont think its the stat.

 

[NOJIMMY]

Re: Overheating Help

...also check your hoses (bottom and top of radiator) to see if they "collapse" after heating.
Check your belt for slippage, and inspect your water pump for bearing wobble or leakage.
Depending on what type of fluid/mixture you have in your radiator you could also be developing
"steam pockets".

-Larry

 

[DonHo32]

Re: Overheating Help

...also check your hoses (bottom and top of radiator) to see if they "collapse" after heating.
Check your belt for slippage, and inspect your water pump for bearing wobble or leakage.
Depending on what type of fluid/mixture you have in your radiator you could also be developing
"steam pockets".

-Larry

Good info. I have suspected that the lower rad hose could be part of the issue (even though it is not leaking) because it is very close to the x-over pipe. I never thought about it collapsing. Could you elaborate more on the steam pockets? Thanks for your help. These ideas are giving me more things to check and I am sure one of them will resolve the issue.

 

[NOJIMMY]

Re: Overheating Help

1. According to Jay Ross at Applied Chemical Specialities the best water to use is soft water not distilled
water (distilled not a good idea because lack of ions causes chemical imbalance pulling impurities from light
metals/engine such as aluminum or magnesium, greatly enhancing the corrosion process). Soft water
is treated with sodium chloride that replaces lost ions.
2. Bottled or tap water is the next best solution to soft water (altho mixing 50/50 with antifreeze will help in
pulling ions from antifreeze versus cooling system). For drag racers a high quality anticorrosion additive is
essential (like No-Rosion from Applied Chemical).
3. Royal Purple`s Purple Ice is another anticorrosion product that uses dispersants to help reduce
steam pockets.
4. Additives such as Red Lines Water Wetter and Purple Ice address steam pockets by acting
as insulators preventing heat transfer out of the combustion chamber.
5. A bad ground could cause electrolysis in an engines electrical system. (Use a digital voltmeter
and attach the ground probe to the radiator: With the engine running dip the positive test lead in the
coolant not touching the radiator; If the reading is more than 150 millivolts the coolant is excessively
acidic; If it reads anywhere near 300 millivolts add a good ground from the chassis back to the battery)
6. Third generation Camaros came with an airdam placed directly under the radiator which is essential
to creating a low-pressure area behind the radiator to move air through the radiator.

Larry

 

[DonHo32]

Re: Overheating Help

1. According to Jay Ross at Applied Chemical Specialities the best water to use is soft water not distilled
water (distilled not a good idea because lack of ions causes chemical imbalance pulling impurities from light
metals/engine such as aluminum or magnesium, greatly enhancing the corrosion process). Soft water
is treated with sodium chloride that replaces lost ions.
2. Bottled or tap water is the next best solution to soft water (altho mixing 50/50 with antifreeze will help in
pulling ions from antifreeze versus cooling system). For drag racers a high quality anticorrosion additive is
essential (like No-Rosion from Applied Chemical).
3. Royal Purple`s Purple Ice is another anticorrosion product that uses dispersants to help reduce
steam pockets.
4. Additives such as Red Lines Water Wetter and Purple Ice address steam pockets by acting
as insulators preventing heat transfer out of the combustion chamber.
5. A bad ground could cause electrolysis in an engines electrical system. (Use a digital voltmeter
and attach the ground probe to the radiator: With the engine running dip the positive test lead in the
coolant not touching the radiator; If the reading is more than 150 millivolts the coolant is excessively
acidic; If it reads anywhere near 300 millivolts add a good ground from the chassis back to the battery)
6. Third generation Camaros came with an airdam placed directly under the radiator which is essential
to creating a low-pressure area behind the radiator to move air through the radiator.

Larry

Very good info. I didnt know that about distilled water. First I ran a 50/50 mix (no issues) then I was running a wetter and distilled when all this started. Then I went back to a 50/50 mix, but still have the problem. I wonder??? I will do some more testing with what you suggested above. Thanks again!!

 

[gt71ss]

Re: Overheating Help

what makes you think your over-heating? what does the temp gauge say? puking water into the over-flow is normal. expansion of excess fluid. upon cooldown is sucked back in. you probably have a small leak somewhere.have someone pressureize the system and look real carefully at all water connections. GT