So I’ve noticed some coolant system issues lately.
I hear the waterfall sound behind the dash sometimes.
Couple weeks ago I checked the fluids and my expansion tank was almost empty and radiator was not full either. Topped off the radiator, it didn’t take a lot to get it full, then I filled the expansion tank to slightly above the full line, oops!
Then I went on a road trip. 2 hrs in stopped and go figure that the expansion tank had overflowed. No real issues for the rest of my 9 hr drive.
However on the return home we stopped at a drive thru about 4 hrs into the drive. While idling waiting in line the coolant temp rose up to hot then after a few secs it went back down to normal. Checked out the radiator and hoses after parking and shutting down, and they don’t seem too hot or like when an engine is actually overheating.
Did the rest of my drive uneventfully with no overheats, just a couple of times the gauge would fluctuate within the middle range.
This morning I got around to picking up the loaner radiator pressure tester from O Reilly’s and the radiator tests good, pumped it up to 16 psi and let it sit for 5 minutes and it held pressure.
Unfortunately I could not test the cap as this loaner tool did not come with the correct adapter for our small radiator caps.
Also to note, I don’t have a CEL and the engine runs smooth with no misfires.
I don’t think I have ruled out a small head gasket leak because I suppose I could have just put pressure into the offending cylinder and it could hold of those valves happened to be closed. O Reilly’s doesn’t carry a block tester, so I’m going to pick one up from Napa later today.
So pending the block exhaust gas test my theory right now is that the cap is bad causing coolant to expand into the tank and not come back which causes there to be air in the system and maybe when stopping sometimes some boiled vapors come in contact with the temp sensor and make it rise.
Or could I possibly also have a bad water pump that somehow isn’t leaking and the system holds pressure?
Edit:
Forgot to mention, this is on my 05 V6 with 226k miles and I’m the 2nd owner, with the first being my father in law who mostly dealer serviced and gave me all records. Looks like HG and water pump have never been replaced.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I hear the waterfall sound behind the dash sometimes.
Couple weeks ago I checked the fluids and my expansion tank was almost empty and radiator was not full either. Topped off the radiator, it didn’t take a lot to get it full, then I filled the expansion tank to slightly above the full line, oops!
Then I went on a road trip. 2 hrs in stopped and go figure that the expansion tank had overflowed. No real issues for the rest of my 9 hr drive.
However on the return home we stopped at a drive thru about 4 hrs into the drive. While idling waiting in line the coolant temp rose up to hot then after a few secs it went back down to normal. Checked out the radiator and hoses after parking and shutting down, and they don’t seem too hot or like when an engine is actually overheating.
Did the rest of my drive uneventfully with no overheats, just a couple of times the gauge would fluctuate within the middle range.
This morning I got around to picking up the loaner radiator pressure tester from O Reilly’s and the radiator tests good, pumped it up to 16 psi and let it sit for 5 minutes and it held pressure.
Unfortunately I could not test the cap as this loaner tool did not come with the correct adapter for our small radiator caps.
Also to note, I don’t have a CEL and the engine runs smooth with no misfires.
I don’t think I have ruled out a small head gasket leak because I suppose I could have just put pressure into the offending cylinder and it could hold of those valves happened to be closed. O Reilly’s doesn’t carry a block tester, so I’m going to pick one up from Napa later today.
So pending the block exhaust gas test my theory right now is that the cap is bad causing coolant to expand into the tank and not come back which causes there to be air in the system and maybe when stopping sometimes some boiled vapors come in contact with the temp sensor and make it rise.
Or could I possibly also have a bad water pump that somehow isn’t leaking and the system holds pressure?
Edit:
Forgot to mention, this is on my 05 V6 with 226k miles and I’m the 2nd owner, with the first being my father in law who mostly dealer serviced and gave me all records. Looks like HG and water pump have never been replaced.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
