Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

[AppleTY]

So yesterday, after many years of storage, I finally got to drive my Ty out on the highway for an extended period of time. When I got home the coolant expansion tank started to bubble over. Okay, so I thought I had put too much coolant in it, but then when it cooled it sucked it down to nearly empty (like maybe a quarter cup). I didn't notice any high temps while driving, in fact it stayed pretty much in the center the whole time. What could cause this?

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

How's your IC pump? Mine threw up when I got to Bowling Green for Nats. Couple guys looked at it and determined it was probably because my IC pump doesn't work at all. It made it back to Nashville without throwing up again, but I haven't really driven the truck since and still haven't changed the IC pump.

 

[AppleTY]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

How's your IC pump? Mine threw up when I got to Bowling Green for Nats. Couple guys looked at it and determined it was probably because my IC pump doesn't work at all. It made it back to Nashville without throwing up again, but I haven't really driven the truck since and still haven't changed the IC pump.

It's an aftermarket expansion tank and not plumbed to my IC.

 

[Damian]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

Run the engine with the radiator cap off. Look for bubbles.

 

[atkonkler]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

If your overflow was boiling....possible headgasket failure. Get the exhaust fluid test done involving the coolant.

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

start with the simple stuff, all these doom and gloom head gasket failure, odds are thermostat is sticky,

 

[AppleTY]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

Run the engine with the radiator cap off. Look for bubbles.

If your overflow was boiling....possible headgasket failure. Get the exhaust fluid test done involving the coolant.

No bubbles, but I could see exhaust coming out. Crap.

Well it's a good thing my RPM motor will be done soon.

 

[AppleTY]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

No bubbles, but I could see exhaust coming out. Crap.

Well it's a good thing my RPM motor will be done soon.

What's really strange is I did a compression test just a few weeks ago and all cylinders were pretty good between 128 and 140.

 

[Jimmy]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

start with the simple stuff, all these doom and gloom head gasket failure, odds are thermostat is sticky,

^This

 

[AppleTY]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

^This

Well what else would be causing exhaust gasses to come out of the radiator cap? I mean I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Help! Coolant Expansion Issue

Maybe your expansion tank is too small. If it sucked all the fluid back in, that's good - that is why it is there.

Do another compression check if you are really worried.

Mine did a similar thing. I have the tank that came with the alkycontrol kit and it seems to bubble over but then suck it up dry. I will try and get another tank installed at some point.

You said there were no bubbles but you could see exhaust coming out - how? The exhaust IS the bubbles... Did you just see water vapour?

If you were losing coolant AND it was overheating, that would be more concerning but you appear to have neither symptom. How long was the run? Did you drive it hard?