intermittent overheating . . . I'm stumped.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 137
From: Horsham, PA
intermittent overheating . . . I'm stumped.
Guys,
I recently installed a new 383 SR and TH400 tranny. I followed the cooling system bleeding instructions on Shoebox's site and everything seemed good for about a week of start and stop local driving, with it running up to 20 minutes or so at a time. I'm running a 180* t-stat and it has stayed rock solid at 180*, no variation. On Sunday I took the car for a @60 mile round trip. Since I'm running 3.73's I drove on the highway at 3k rpms. The way up all the gauges read perfect . . . with the temp solid at 180*. When I got to my sisters house I took my brother in law for a ride and beat on it pretty good, all systems normal. About 3 hours later I took it to a friends house about 15 minutes away and it drove fine, temp was rock solid. My buddy and I took it out and thrashed it some more . . everything was fine. On my way home I was driving for @ 30 minutes and everything was still fine. I stopped to get my ticket for the turnpike and started out of the toll both. I got about .5 miles and saw that the gauge was climbing pretty fast. I immediately shut it down and coasted to the side of the highway. Then the overflow erupted and coolant drained out the passenger side of the car. After it cooled down I popped the cap on the radiator and it was pretty much dry. It took @1 gallon of 50/50 mix until it was full. I bled the system, checked the overflow tank and started it up. It warmed up to 180* and stayed there for the remainder of the ride home. The next day there were no signs of leakage, but the radiator was not topped off?? I filled it to the bottom of the filler neck and checked the overflow tank, then took it for a ride. Everything checked out fine. This morning I changed the oil (no apparent coolant was in the oil) and checked the overflow tank. I took it out for @25 minutes today and still no issues . . . but the radiator is not full. I've had my dad follow me and there was no evidence of exhaust discoloration either.
Anyone experience this? I have an appointment to get the system pressure tested on Thursday. Also, is it normal for the radiator to not be at the same level after driving and partial cool down . . or should it always be at the bottom of the filler neck?
I'm hoping that it could be a faulty radiator cap . . . but I'm at a loss at this point. Any help is appreciated.
Pete.
I recently installed a new 383 SR and TH400 tranny. I followed the cooling system bleeding instructions on Shoebox's site and everything seemed good for about a week of start and stop local driving, with it running up to 20 minutes or so at a time. I'm running a 180* t-stat and it has stayed rock solid at 180*, no variation. On Sunday I took the car for a @60 mile round trip. Since I'm running 3.73's I drove on the highway at 3k rpms. The way up all the gauges read perfect . . . with the temp solid at 180*. When I got to my sisters house I took my brother in law for a ride and beat on it pretty good, all systems normal. About 3 hours later I took it to a friends house about 15 minutes away and it drove fine, temp was rock solid. My buddy and I took it out and thrashed it some more . . everything was fine. On my way home I was driving for @ 30 minutes and everything was still fine. I stopped to get my ticket for the turnpike and started out of the toll both. I got about .5 miles and saw that the gauge was climbing pretty fast. I immediately shut it down and coasted to the side of the highway. Then the overflow erupted and coolant drained out the passenger side of the car. After it cooled down I popped the cap on the radiator and it was pretty much dry. It took @1 gallon of 50/50 mix until it was full. I bled the system, checked the overflow tank and started it up. It warmed up to 180* and stayed there for the remainder of the ride home. The next day there were no signs of leakage, but the radiator was not topped off?? I filled it to the bottom of the filler neck and checked the overflow tank, then took it for a ride. Everything checked out fine. This morning I changed the oil (no apparent coolant was in the oil) and checked the overflow tank. I took it out for @25 minutes today and still no issues . . . but the radiator is not full. I've had my dad follow me and there was no evidence of exhaust discoloration either.
Anyone experience this? I have an appointment to get the system pressure tested on Thursday. Also, is it normal for the radiator to not be at the same level after driving and partial cool down . . or should it always be at the bottom of the filler neck?
I'm hoping that it could be a faulty radiator cap . . . but I'm at a loss at this point. Any help is appreciated.
Pete.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WobblySausage
LT1 Based Engine Tech
6
Oct 7, 2015 02:44 PM
WobblySausage
Drivetrain
4
Oct 7, 2015 10:09 AM