by So you drove around and it did not overheat? It should get hotter the faster you drive,,,,,that is acting like a clogged up radiator because it is not cooling the heat fast enough as the engine is creating it. The thermostat needs hot coolant under it for it to open so by not having the water pump connected, the coolant would get real hot and violent before the thermostat would open and relieve the pressure thats why for that 1 test, you would of had to have the engine warmed up so that the thermostat was open, THEN remove the belt and see if the coolant in the radiator moved because at that time, the only thing that would move the coolant with the engine running would be escaping exhaust gas,,,,but you only do it for a minute, the coolant will overheat if you don't get the waterpump to push it to the radiator to cool it down below its boiling point,,,You have not nailed the problem down yet,,,,,you need to take it to a shop and have them test that radiator and the rest of the system to see where the problem is,,,,,
+2
Twinpilot001
kavesh
6 posters
Chev 4100 250cubic inch motor overheating
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
I will try and take the van to the radiator shop on Saturday morning.
I decided to have a look at the spark plugs this afternoon to see if will tell me if there is an engine problem. All plugs had a sort of a light brown to off white colour, except for number 6 that was more black in colour. Other than that the plugs were clean with no signs of oil or coolant. Hopefully thats a good sign.
Will let you know after the weekend once i've done the real test at the rad.shop.
I decided to have a look at the spark plugs this afternoon to see if will tell me if there is an engine problem. All plugs had a sort of a light brown to off white colour, except for number 6 that was more black in colour. Other than that the plugs were clean with no signs of oil or coolant. Hopefully thats a good sign.
Will let you know after the weekend once i've done the real test at the rad.shop.
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
I managed to get a chemical test done at a radiator shop on Saturday.
The head seems fine as it did not show any evidence of gas leaking into the coolant or radiator. I was told there was a little bit of pressure build up in the radiator. They could not tell me why that was though.
The guy that did the test that my most likely problem was the thermostat. He said that the thermostat should open fully, i.e the spring must be fully compressed on a good working thermostat.
When I tested my thermostat it only opened 5mm.
The guy suggested that I run the vehicle without the thermostat or cut out the centre guts of it, just like the other mechanic suggested I do.
He said that the lower radiator hose was fine but if I was concerned to get a spring fitted internally. I may do that.
I think that will get a new thermostat for it though. Perhaps I just ended up with a bad one that failed quickly, only had that in for a few months.
The head seems fine as it did not show any evidence of gas leaking into the coolant or radiator. I was told there was a little bit of pressure build up in the radiator. They could not tell me why that was though.
The guy that did the test that my most likely problem was the thermostat. He said that the thermostat should open fully, i.e the spring must be fully compressed on a good working thermostat.
When I tested my thermostat it only opened 5mm.
The guy suggested that I run the vehicle without the thermostat or cut out the centre guts of it, just like the other mechanic suggested I do.
He said that the lower radiator hose was fine but if I was concerned to get a spring fitted internally. I may do that.
I think that will get a new thermostat for it though. Perhaps I just ended up with a bad one that failed quickly, only had that in for a few months.
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
Hi guys
are you happy with what the guy at the radiator shop said
are you happy with what the guy at the radiator shop said
donivan65- Governor
- Number of posts : 12248
Location : San Diego, California
Registration date : 2008-05-12
So what happens when you drive it without a thermostat?
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
If the thermostat is only opening a little -=likely the problem-restricting water flow- just get a new one -a name brand. try that .
HandiVanMan- Number of posts : 1868
Location : Calhoun, Ga
Age : 58
Registration date : 2010-04-11
Does it have a clutch fan, electric fan or a straight fan? If it has a clutch fan the clutch could be wore out on it.
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
Without the thermostat it ran fine without overheating, but i'm not comformatable without the thermostat.
I have the fixed metal four blade fan that attaches to the waterpump in front of the radiator.
Anyways I bought a new thermostat and tested it before installing it. Dropped it in water and it opened much more than the old one. So I think perhaps the problem may have been the thermostat. Have not taken the van for a drive as yet as we have had wet weather recently.
We seem to have only one brand in South Africa, PJ Echlin. Do you recognise this brand, perhaps its only in South Africa.
Hopefully problem resolved. The old thermostat must have went faulty during my drive which caused it to overheat.
Will let you know after the weekend if its all fine now.
I have the fixed metal four blade fan that attaches to the waterpump in front of the radiator.
Anyways I bought a new thermostat and tested it before installing it. Dropped it in water and it opened much more than the old one. So I think perhaps the problem may have been the thermostat. Have not taken the van for a drive as yet as we have had wet weather recently.
We seem to have only one brand in South Africa, PJ Echlin. Do you recognise this brand, perhaps its only in South Africa.
Hopefully problem resolved. The old thermostat must have went faulty during my drive which caused it to overheat.
Will let you know after the weekend if its all fine now.
HandiVanMan- Number of posts : 1868
Location : Calhoun, Ga
Age : 58
Registration date : 2010-04-11
Hope that you have good results with the new stat.
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
echlin yes here usa -good one
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
Good to know echlin is a good brand. HOpefully this one will not fail me.
kavesh- Number of posts : 49
Registration date : 2012-02-15
Finally got around to taking my pickup for a drive and I am happy to note that it did not overheat.
Seems like my problem was a faulty thermostat. Weird how these things just die on you.
Thanks for the advice, I have really learnt a lot from you you.
Best regards
Kavesh
Seems like my problem was a faulty thermostat. Weird how these things just die on you.
Thanks for the advice, I have really learnt a lot from you you.
Best regards
Kavesh
