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SkiDozer SV 200 Boiling Over

S

snowbird

New member
My 300 cubic inch Ford 6 cylinder engine's radiator goes quickly from 190 degrees to over 220 degrees, then settles back down to 190. When I check the radiator, I need to add about 3 pints of coolant to cover the fins inside the filler cap. Any ideas? (I've put in a new thermostat, tightened the fan belt, added a fan shroud, and had the radiator boiled out).:sad:
 
first is the fan moving air the right way. also check a full radiator for bubbles when running it's a good indication of a cracked head or leaking head gasket it's very rare you could have a water pump impeller problem.
 
Don gave good advice. It is not impossible that the "new" thermostat is hanging up. This could be due to it not being made right or is in a bind in the housing/ engine block. Is the thermostat housing the right one for the engine? I don't know the history of your machine but a previous owner could have changed it. The fact that it settles back down leads me to think it is hanging up. Test The thermostat in one of mom's less fancy pots on the stove with a thermometer to see when it starts to open and if it opens smoothly. If it is not a smooth opening, take it back to NAPA.
 
Thermostat mounted in the correct direction? I have seen 2 of these this year alone. Fit simptoms to a t.
 
Sounds like you cap may be bad too . The cap is blowing before the thermostat is opening . Try a new #1461 Napa cap and put on a recovery system too to sipon back in lost coolant . Switch to a 160degree thermostat .
 
I have had the same problem in my J5 (251)... the stat was up side down... fixed that... it still sometimes goes over temp them right back to normal. I also put in more antifreeze after it spit it out each time, I thought ok, you are a 1960 without a overflow tank. so i didn't fill it after that... well it has been at the same level for 2 years and not leaking it out through the cap... the antifreeze needed room to expand and contract! Maybe nothing is wrong... as with mine. Just a thought, you may want to just check it over the next few hours of driving to see...
 
OK, some of us have dealt with this on old Willy's jeeps. New thermostats do not open smoothly due to metals used. They tend to surge open. Take a 1/8th drill bit and put 2 or 3 holes in the rim of thermostat to allow a little seepage. Do this after you checked that thermostat opens at correct temp and put in overflow as described by others above.
 
if you are running at high altitude a cap up grade may be necessary, say go from an 6 to 8 pound cap to a 12 pound cap. as you go up in altitude your boil point lowers this is why you have a pressure cap to keep your coolant from boiling.
 
I agree with all the above, we need to remember that the overflow tank is to capture the overflow and then it is sucked back into the system so the antifreeze is not put out to pasture, but reclaimed, doesn't matter what vehicle you own or were you are. If the rad has a reclaim hose port at the rad cap this would be an easy fix, just put on a hose and a plastic bottle. I am not at high altitude, and had the same problem until i just left it alone. The top tank on the rad now stays at the same level maybe a few inches below the cap. Hope your problem is as easy to fix as mine!
 
Thanks for all the good advice. I put in a new thermostat late today and
took the SkiDozer for a little trial run and so far it stayed at the correct coolant temperature. I'll try it tomorrow morning pulling the drag and see if it still
keeps its cool.:smile:
 
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