Figuring out cooling issues

[Dasfinc]

98 5.0, motor is healthy, efan running strong. Headgaskets good, etc. Radiator Filler cap sits below the water neck. Upper hose gets hot, so does the lower, rad not getting hot, I assume the rad is fuxored? Any special way to bleed the air out?

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[Oreif]

If the hoses are hot but the radiator isn't, That usually indicates no flow. Do you know if anyone ever changed the waterpump? Some of the replacement water pumps use cheap plastic for the impeller. Over time these slip on the shafts and cause the same thing you are describing.

 

[Dasfinc]

If the hoses are hot but the radiator isn't, That usually indicates no flow. Do you know if anyone ever changed the waterpump? Some of the replacement water pumps use cheap plastic for the impeller. Over time these slip on the shafts and cause the same thing you are describing.

It has not been replaced, I had hoped it survived its ordeal having the fan removed, and it may not have...

The radiator on the upper left side on the EDGE gets VERY hot, but the bulk surface does not.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

thermostat?

 

[Dasfinc]

Replaced the T-stat, and the Water pump...

Still no flow, upper hose is getting pressure, but no coolant in it.

Radiator has no clogs, ran a hose through it....

Oil still looks good, doesn't smell or look like anything bad...

I dunno if it matters, but the water filler neck is BELOW the top of the T-stat housing.

Was a bit low on oil *Doesn't leak anything, but granted I had changed it right after the swap, so I'm sure it needed an extra half/quart due to the filter filling up, and am not thinking anything of it.
could DESPERATELY use some help, I'm soo close, and yet so far

Last thing I can think of is just run no T-stat...?

 

[Ron Vogel]

Sounds like it's just low on coolant, and the pump is cavitating.

Wait until it's cold, and fill from the tstat neck, also top off the rad after it's back on and see if that helps.

 

[Dasfinc]

Sounds like it's just low on coolant, and the pump is cavitating.

Wait until it's cold, and fill from the tstat neck, also top off the rad after it's back on and see if that helps.

Thats what I am hoping...

I have a REALLY stupid question...

Which way does the T-stat belong in the neck?

Right now I have the 'spring' side TOWARD the engine, and I am starting to think that this may be backwards.... Would this cause it to be locked closed....?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Take it out and see what happens...

 

[Dasfinc]

Take it out and see what happens...

too late today Neighbors already annoyed with it being easter.

I will in the morning and pray...

I can't think of anything else... and if it IS anything else, it will probably be catastrophic...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Well if it flows without the T stat then it'll narrow it down. Could also be bad...even when new. You could try heating it up and see if it opens. Usually the spring sits towards the engine but don't know about 302's

 

[Dasfinc]

Well if it flows without the T stat then it'll narrow it down. Could also be bad...even when new. You could try heating it up and see if it opens. Usually the spring sits towards the engine but don't know about 302's

I'm fairly confident that is the case, and that is also how I'm like 99% sure I installed it...

Granted the T-stat I tossed in there was for a V-6 explorer... but I thought they all functioned the same? *dunno*

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Set the oven to 200* and pop it in. See if it works.

 

[Dasfinc]

Set the oven to 200* and pop it in. See if it works.

Or I can just rip it out and run without till I figure it out ... and be really annoyed if I replaced the water pump for nothing.....

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Well let's hope taking it out solves the problem and it's nothing serious.

 

[Dasfinc]

Well let's hope taking it out solves the problem and it's nothing serious.

I'd be REALLY shocked if I popped the F'in headgaskets already, or the motor already had bad/leaking ones... again, the oil looks good, and the rad isn't heating up.... I'm used to bad HG's will cause it to overheat in a hurry, including the freaking Rad!

 

[Runtz52]

it sounds like nothing is flowing through the radiator, take the tstat out thatll be the quickest way to check it, spring should be be going towards the motor on it as well

 

[syP]

I told you to take it out.. do it!

 

[Ron Vogel]

I usually put tstats in a pot of water to heat them up.

 

[LIGHTNING MIKE]

I have a bleeder,sits on top of radiator,watch air bubbles come to the top.But most of the air goes into the catch can,if you don't bleed from the start.

Buy some beer,i can bring over.

 

[02BlueGT]

Def try bleeding it, hot air doesn't open the Tstat as well as a hot liquid.... Also, try not to run too long w/o the Tstat, as the coolant tends to move too fast to absorb all the heat from the motor, and you can have the motor overheat while the coolant is still at a ok temp

 

[LIGHTNING MIKE]

you can also put that t-stat back in and drill a small hole in the t-stat.Helps with cooling,but is the radiator in good shape?

 

[Dasfinc]

you can also put that t-stat back in and drill a small hole in the t-stat.Helps with cooling,but is the radiator in good shape?

Rad is pretty crappy, don't think that's THE issue, but it is an issue.

 

[Dasfinc]

With no-T-stat and filling from the upper water neck... It runs perfect... flawlessly...

Got the exhaust finished, got O2's in it, good to rock!

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'd put a quality t-stat in and you should be good to go.

 

[Poopshinanigans]

i might have to come watch the track day if this truck is going to be there.