Question: coolant issue

[drenalineman]

i just had a new radiator installed in my 1992 convertible vette which has 94,000 miles..it also has a new water pump on it. the coolant is bubbling and leaking out from the top of my plastic coolant resovoir whiich is located near the right fender wall..The cap actually gets loosened and coolant steams out...the engine temp is around 220 to 230 which isn't excessively hot for these engines...the low coolant lihgt is going on and off now and also starting to leak out of my main radiator fill cap !!! is this an air pocket trappe in the lines or do y fill tanks need to be repaired/replaced?

 

[gmjunkie]

i just had a new radiator installed in my 1992 convertible vette which has 94,000 miles..it also has a new water pump on it. the coolant is bubbling and leaking out from the top of my plastic coolant resovoir whiich is located near the right fender wall..The cap actually gets loosened and coolant steams out...the engine temp is around 220 to 230 which isn't excessively hot for these engines...the low coolant lihgt is going on and off now and also starting to leak out of my main radiator fill cap !!! is this an air pocket trappe in the lines or do y fill tanks need to be repaired/replaced?

I think you have air bubble allright........................
But I think it's probly Compression Gasses instead of air!~!!
How hot has the engine been before the new radiator?~??
My guess is you have a Blown Head Gasket or Cracked Head!~!!:eyerole

 

[Hib Halverson]

If you just had a new radiator and water pump installed and it was done by a competent service technician, it's unlikely the problem stems from the installation work.

I agree with "gmjunkie"...it's possible that the engine has faulty headgaskets or a cracked block or head.

Have the problem diagnosed by the guy who put the radiator in.

 

[drenalineman]

thanks

i have an appt with my mechanic on wednesday..does the entire engine need to be dismantled if the head is cracked?

 

[boomdriver]

i have an appt with my mechanic on wednesday..does the entire engine need to be dismantled if the head is cracked?

almost....a cracked head is bad. Costly. A blown head gasket is bad but not as expensive..

If there was NO sign of a problem BEFORE the new radiator was installed......I'd take a hard look at the radiator CAP. If that seal or seat is damaged and unable to seal under the normal pressure of the cooling system, then it will do exactly what you are seeing...pushing all the coolant out thru the overflow hose into the bottle and blowing the screw on cap off....

Look at your radiator cap and the rubber seal. When its COLD. Then start it without the cap. If there are bubbles IN the radiator and its trying to push coolant out right away.....keep that appt and keep the nitro tablets handy....

 

[drenalineman]

i'll let you know after i see my mechanic

 

[Hib Halverson]

i have an appt with my mechanic on wednesday..does the entire engine need to be dismantled if the head is cracked?

If the probme is a cracked head, the problem has not existed very long and the rest of the engine is in good condition, then the whole engine does not have to come apart. Only the induction and the heads need be removed.

The cracked head will have to be replaced. Do a "valve job" on the other head while you have the engine apart.

If the head is cracked, the rest of the engine is worn and you plan to keep the car for a while, I'd overhaul the engine.

 

[smokestack]

Plus side is. Great time for better heads and cam upgrade