overheated again

[phines]

zadam123,

I think I know what your problem is. You've described exactly what my VX was doing for about 2 years and it was very frustrating.

Turned out one of the head gasket bolts had broken (the one closest to the front on the passenger side). When the engine would get hot enough, you get a leak between the combustion chamber and the coolant. It's pretty much a one way leak that results in the combustion chamber pressurizing the coolant and screwing up the flow. I say it's only a one way leak because I wasn't losing any coolant, which makes sense since the pressure in combustion chamber should be much higher than that of the coolant.

[phines]

IndianaVX,

You might have the same problem I just described, but a little worse. I was having a leak through the head gasket between the combustion chamber and the coolant, but you might have a leak straight to the outside. This would leak pressure from the combustion chamber (giving you the loss in power) and the coolant would be escaping at the same time. Wouldn't be surprised if you had multiple broken bolts.

[zadam123]

IndianaVX,

You might have the same problem I just described, but a little worse. I was having a leak through the head gasket between the combustion chamber and the coolant, but you might have a leak straight to the outside. This would leak pressure from the combustion chamber (giving you the loss in power) and the coolant would be escaping at the same time. Wouldn't be surprised if you had multiple broken bolts.

the thing is i am not loosing power. How can you tell if its what your describing can these bolts be seen easy and where are they?

also some new things started happining. like now i am loosing antifreeze but it seems like the leak is comming inside the car on passenger side floor is really wet. and i am adding antifreeze more often and overheating more often.



thanks

[RickOKC]

That would be the heater core.

[vt_maverick]

And why isn't it in the shop already?

[phines]

Yeah, what you're describing now is a very different problem. If the head bolts and/or gasket are a problem, they definitely aren't the only problem. You definitely want to get that thing in the shop again.

[SuperBoomTurbo]

Hey gang,

Just got to work at 1500hr/3pm and pulled into the lot. Its about 80 degrees today so I had the window down and smelled maple syrup (ie coolant roasting) when I came to a stop in a stall. My first knee jerk was to scowl at the temp gauge; low and behold its spiked in the red, steam coming from under the hood and all the trimmings.

I lift 'er up and there's a spattering of fluid everywhere, dripping down on the right side and a nice puddle under the truck (then again the lot leans downhill so its one more bone in the soup). I'm pretty good under the hood but I can't find anything on first glances. Radiator cap was cool enough to touch so I peaked in and its (duh!) bone dry.

I'm going back out to check a little closer, but does anyone have any first conjectures? I'm stuck at work for the time being to 2300hr/11pm and about 30 minutes from home via freeway. The wife is coming with coolant and stop leak in case its something small...

[IndianaVX]

superboom,
for clarity, when you say "the right side" are you talking passenger side (right from inside the truck) or drivers side (right as you stare at the engine bay scratchin your head)

if it is driver side, it is probably blowing out the resivour onto the firewall and down. i cant think of where the coolant would come out the passenger side.....



as far the bolts, mine are all fine, i have seen them pleanty over the last couple of weeks, and quite frankly, i am tired of seeing them and their perfect little threads

[SuperBoomTurbo]

Well, I think its the radiator itself (either the side facing the engine or the bottom) if anyone happens to stumble on this posting. The missus was kind enough to come out with a jug of coolant, stop leak, and a new radiator cap. It leaked, and leaked, and pressurized and leaked worse, then slowed and the temp came down but continues to have a drip. That and now there's a drip coming out of the exhaust pipe at the tail (strange addition here).

She's taking the baby home with el father-in-law and I hope she makes it. We shall see...

In the mean time, anyone have any stories of massive radiator failure without warning?

[circmand]

hose splits that leak slow until presurized and then build up steam, bad radiator cap but that is usually only at pressure but it could be already expelled fluid dripping. Are there any clean spots? The super heated steam can blast right where it is leaking and the clean spot left will show you where to look.

[SuperBoomTurbo]

Hard to tell. I saw a few spots at the top of the radiator around the filler neck and here and there in the vicinity, but when I went back to really look at it, my hands had already touched those places. When running it hasn't shot steam since adding fluid and leak stop. My wife has it at home thankfully (just got word) and said there wasn't any heat spikes and no leaks at present. Me being the paranoid type when it comes to my transportation, I'm wondering when that next something will rear its ugly head.

All I've got for now is that its home where I can tinker with it in the garage. Unfortunately, the VX was the back up car as my other car awaits transmission service. Sigh... Happy Holidays

[IndianaVX]

They do sell an ultraviolet additive that you can add to the
coolant, drive the vx around a while, then make like csi
And get a black light. The additive will light up where the leak
is!
cool stuff!