Milblazer
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2013
- Posts
- 268
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- Colorado
- First Name
- MilBlazer
- Truck Year
- 1984
- Truck Model
- K5
- Engine Size
- 6.2
I recently did a flush on my cooling system, changed the hoses, and put in a new thermostat. The flush must have knocked some crude loose because a small leak developed. I used some stop leak and that leak stopped. Shortly after my truck started overheating according to the gauge. Swapped out that gauge with another one and it showed overheating as well. I started doing some research to see what could be wrong. I thought there could be some air still in the lines so with the radiator cap off I started it up to see if there were any bubbles. I didnt see any but I did notice that the upper radiator hose was not getting entirely hot. There were spots right near the thermostat and where the hose connects at the radiator that would get hot but the high point would only get warm. The hose would feel some what pressurized but it felt like there was no coolant running through it.
All this was with the truck leaning to the right in the street. I pulled it into the driveway so it would be leaning to the left with the radiator cap up high so any air could rise to the top. I let it run some more and noticed the upper hose still felt like it was full of air so I decided to "pump it" by squeezing and hopefully getting some air out. As I did this I noticed the coolant level fell so I thought I was making some headway. At this point I also noticed some small bubbles coming out of coolant. These bubbles were the size of bubbles from pepsi in a glass, nothing major.
I have no idea what is going on so I put the cap back on, after shutting it off. Truck was parked back in the street and I decided to look into the coolant reservoir with the radiator cap on for bubbles that would indicate a head gasket failure and did not see a single bubble. I drove it around until the temp gauge hit 210, parked it, looked in the coolant overflow tank again and still no bubbles. I'm at a loss for what I should do or check next. I have heard of a kit to test for exhaust gases in the cooling system. Also I have read that I should do a compression test on each cylinder. Any advice, comments, karma, or magic voodoo you want to throw my way so I can have a normal operating temp truck again?
All this was with the truck leaning to the right in the street. I pulled it into the driveway so it would be leaning to the left with the radiator cap up high so any air could rise to the top. I let it run some more and noticed the upper hose still felt like it was full of air so I decided to "pump it" by squeezing and hopefully getting some air out. As I did this I noticed the coolant level fell so I thought I was making some headway. At this point I also noticed some small bubbles coming out of coolant. These bubbles were the size of bubbles from pepsi in a glass, nothing major.
I have no idea what is going on so I put the cap back on, after shutting it off. Truck was parked back in the street and I decided to look into the coolant reservoir with the radiator cap on for bubbles that would indicate a head gasket failure and did not see a single bubble. I drove it around until the temp gauge hit 210, parked it, looked in the coolant overflow tank again and still no bubbles. I'm at a loss for what I should do or check next. I have heard of a kit to test for exhaust gases in the cooling system. Also I have read that I should do a compression test on each cylinder. Any advice, comments, karma, or magic voodoo you want to throw my way so I can have a normal operating temp truck again?
