combustion in the coolant?
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Teching In
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combustion in the coolant? I have gone through 2, TWO! cold case radiators in my Blazer. I have to give props to coldcase though, they sent one to replace the first one I purchase free of charge last october and that one started leaking today. I walked out to the driveway and it was leaking, hadnt even started it yet.
needless to say i am a bit pissed, called coldcase and they said take a pic of the serial number and the leak and they will send out another!! many props to them and their lifetime warranty.
Now, the dude on the other end of the line told me that there could be "combustion" in the coolant? and that could be causing the pressure that is blowing the radiators apart. I personally, in all my years of being a home garage gearhead have never heard of that until today. He said that there wouldnt be the usual signs of water on the plugs or coming out the tailpipe
but could be causing the pressure, said he had a 454 that was doing this. Said he changed the head gaskets and the problem went away.
Can a head gasket be bad as to let combustion into the radiator and not into the cylinder ?
needless to say i am a bit pissed, called coldcase and they said take a pic of the serial number and the leak and they will send out another!! many props to them and their lifetime warranty.
Now, the dude on the other end of the line told me that there could be "combustion" in the coolant? and that could be causing the pressure that is blowing the radiators apart. I personally, in all my years of being a home garage gearhead have never heard of that until today. He said that there wouldnt be the usual signs of water on the plugs or coming out the tailpipe
but could be causing the pressure, said he had a 454 that was doing this. Said he changed the head gaskets and the problem went away.Can a head gasket be bad as to let combustion into the radiator and not into the cylinder ?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2021
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So if "compression gasses" can get into the radiator then there has to be a leak somewhere. Ive heard that there is a test that will let you know if compression gasses are present in the radiator, Im still baffled at this one.
With the kind of test your referring to, I will have to remove the Tstat to do it, correct?
With the kind of test your referring to, I will have to remove the Tstat to do it, correct?
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Yes, there are testing kits that will identify if there are combustion byproducts in the coolant. You could also send a sample of coolant into a lab for testing (I think places like Blackstone, which primarily is known for oil testing, will also test coolant).
Another option would be to run the engine with the radiator cap off, and check for bubbles (of course, this won't be accurate if coolant temps exceed 212°F while not under pressure, i.e. cap removed, as the bubbles could simply be water boiling).
Doing a pressure test (at the radiator cap) won't help you right now as the radiator already has a leak, so the system certainly won't hold pressure. You'd have to replace the radiator first, otherwise the results won't tell you anything that you don't already know (which is that the radiator is leaking).
Another option would be to run the engine with the radiator cap off, and check for bubbles (of course, this won't be accurate if coolant temps exceed 212°F while not under pressure, i.e. cap removed, as the bubbles could simply be water boiling).
Doing a pressure test (at the radiator cap) won't help you right now as the radiator already has a leak, so the system certainly won't hold pressure. You'd have to replace the radiator first, otherwise the results won't tell you anything that you don't already know (which is that the radiator is leaking).
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, the guy at coldcase told me auto parts stores even carry the compression in coolant kits and im going to do it as soon as i get the new radiator (shipped today)
Going to do a compression test tomorrow to get that out of the way.
I rarely get to 200 degrees and that's if I'm pullin a hill or standing on it pretty good. Typically runs hot at 180 to 190 I have dual 12 inch fans programmed to come on at 170.
Yeah, the guy at coldcase told me auto parts stores even carry the compression in coolant kits and im going to do it as soon as i get the new radiator (shipped today)
Going to do a compression test tomorrow to get that out of the way.
I rarely get to 200 degrees and that's if I'm pullin a hill or standing on it pretty good. Typically runs hot at 180 to 190 I have dual 12 inch fans programmed to come on at 170.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
I’d be inclined to say coldcase got a defective batch of radiators. It seems like if you had a head gasket issue, you’d be seeing coolant in your oil. Also, if something is getting overstressed, it fails immediately, not months after normal use.
Yah, if you want to test for combustion gasses in the coolant, that is easy enough to test (block tester)
If there are gasses in leaking into the coolant the fluid will turn yellow
If there are gasses in leaking into the coolant the fluid will turn yellow
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2021
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Yah, if you want to test for combustion gasses in the coolant, that is easy enough to test (block tester)
If there are gasses in leaking into the coolant the fluid will turn yellow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcDe2QYN8As
If there are gasses in leaking into the coolant the fluid will turn yellow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcDe2QYN8As