When i check my upper rad hose in the morning after leaving it sit over night it has some pressure in it but i can still squish it. If i open the cap it lets some pressure out and the hose relaxes. My question is other then when the truck is running at operating temp. should there ever be any pressure in the cooling system? I put the coolant reservoir overflow tube in a catch can and there is a tiny bit at the bottom after about 3 weeks of driving. Just wondering if my head gaskets could be on there way out.
cooling system pressure
- Thread starter TQMONSTR
- Start date
It should not have pressure in the cooling system. with at running temp you should be able to take the cap off the over flow and not have it bubble over. Are you using coolant?
not using coolant from what i can tell. are you saying that when the truck is warm and running you can pop the cap and not have it spill over? never tried it i just assumed it would be pressurized
Correct at running temp and running you should be able to remove the cap and not have it push coolant out. If it blows the cap out of your hand or it is pushing coolant out the over flow and down the side of the truck the head gaskets are blown.
Yes i stand corrected it will have some pressure. I was thinking along the lines of excessive pressure. Thanks for correcting me.
how much pressure are we talkin here? i can squeeze the hose about 3/4 of the way with my thumb and two fingers after it sits all night. It has been like this for a long time. i thought it was the cap so i soaked it in hot soapy water for a few days. Got better for a bit but then went back to the way it was so i bought a new cap. Did it still with the new cap. The truck heats fine and the temp gauge stays between 85 and 100. Heats good and does not use coolant that i am aware of but the upper rad hose is stiff like i mentioned. That is the only thing that has me slightly concerned cause i don't know if it's normal or not.
let the truck sit over night, then go start it in the morning, and power brake it. not enough to break the tires loose, but enough so that theres a good load on the engine. then run out and open your coolant cap. if it hisses and theres pressure built up, it must be your head gaskets. this is what ive been told is a good way to determine if your head gaskets are bad.
Had the same issues, ran it like that for a year or so. Lots of pressure after sitting all night, but for a long time it used little or no coolant. Then one day it changed started puking out the overflow within a week I had no choice but to pull the heads. It sucks but live with the denial as long as you can.
not..