Common questions

What causes a water pump to collapse on a radiator?

What causes a water pump to collapse on a radiator?

A loose belt that slips, may prevent the water pump from circulating coolant or the fan from, turning fast enough. Recommend new hoses if the old ones are over 5 years old. Sometimes a lower radiator hose will collapse under vacuum at high speed. This can happen if the reinforcing spring inside the hose is missing or damaged.

Can a blown head gasket cause an engine to overheat?

Hot spots, can also be very damaging and burn holes right through the top of pistons. A blown head gasket can also be a result of overheating. Heat makes aluminum swell, almost three times faster than cast iron. The resulting stress can distort the head and make it swell in areas that are hottest.

How to troubleshoot an overheating Chevrolet 350 engine?

Twist off the radiator cap after allowing the engine to cool, then look into the radiator to observe the level of antifreeze. Pour antifreeze into the radiator until full if necessary. With the radiator cap off, start the engine and look through the radiator opening while the engine warms.

What is the cooling system on a Chevy 350?

The cooling system for the Chevrolet 350 engine consists of a water pump, a radiator and a thermostat. It is of vital importance that the cooling system work properly, as a cooling problem can lead not only to an engine which overheats, but also to more serious problems such as a damaged head gasket or a cracked cylinder block.

A loose belt that slips, may prevent the water pump from circulating coolant or the fan from, turning fast enough. Recommend new hoses if the old ones are over 5 years old. Sometimes a lower radiator hose will collapse under vacuum at high speed. This can happen if the reinforcing spring inside the hose is missing or damaged.

Why is the bottom of my water pump cold?

The top hose is hot/pressurised but the bottom hose is stone cold. Thermostat has bern changed but the problem persists. I now have the water pump off and it looks ok? Any help welcome. Do you still have the old thermostat? If so test it in hot water. If it works I’d suspect something like a blocked radiator.

How to get the top radiator hose to be hot?

1 Remove the splash tray and push the coolant catch tray in. 2 Remove the thermostat cap, usually on the top hose at the engine. 3 Clean the stat seat on the engine and cap. 4 Lube the new stat seal with fresh coolant and fit it, check the orientation (Jiggle valve up). 5 Tighten down the cap bolts and torque to approx 10Nm (89in lbs).

Why is my radiator hose warm after a cold start?

If the top and bottom radiator hose are equally warm after a cold start. The thermostat is likely stuck in the open position. John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer on Rustyautos.com.

Where does the water pump connect to the radiator?

There are two hoses that connect to the radiator. The upper hose attaches from the top of the radiator to the top of the engine at the thermostat housing. The lower hose attaches from the bottom of the radiator to the water pump of the engine. If you suspect either radiator hose is failing, watch for the following symptoms: 1. Leaking coolant

What causes water to overflow from the radiator?

The car still overheats. Again, upper hose hot, lower cold. The radiator is cold by the lower hose, then warm in an arc around the cold section, then hot along the top and on the entire passenger half of the radiator. Radiator fluid overflowed the overflow.

What causes a cold radiator hose to overheat?

You may finally be forced to purchase a new radiator after performing this leak repairs. A cold lower radiator hose will cause an overheating problem. The cause of this varies with the main culprits being a leaked hose radiator pipe, a faulty thermostat or hindered coolant circulation.

Where does the radiator hose attach to the engine?

The upper hose attaches from the top of the radiator to the top of the engine at the thermostat housing. The lower hose attaches from the bottom of the radiator to the water pump of the engine. If you suspect either radiator hose is failing, watch for the following symptoms:

What do you do when the radiator cap is removed?

Once the cap is removed, you can either open the petcock valve or remove the bottom radiator hose to drain the coolant. Drain the coolant into a plastic reservoir. With the coolant drained, you can start removing hoses, clamps and the radiator bolts keeping the radiator in place.

What causes a radiator hose to collapse under high speed?

Recommend new hoses if the old ones are over 5 years old. Sometimes a lower radiator hose will collapse under vacuum at high speed. This can happen if the reinforcing spring inside the hose is missing or damaged. The most common problems radiators fall prey to are clogging (both internal and external) and leaks.

What’s the best way to replace a radiator?

Set the new radiator in place, and then reattach all the previously removed parts. Start with the radiator mounting bolts and finish with the radiator reservoir hose. Check that the petcock is closed and that all other valves and caps on the new radiator are shut.

How do you change the hose on a radiator?

Connect the lower portion of the hose to the thermostat housing outlet first. Do It Right: If you use threaded hose clamps, make sure to tighten the clamps to manufacturer specifications. Connect the upper portion of the hose to the radiator inlet. Fill the radiator with coolant.

Once the cap is removed, you can either open the petcock valve or remove the bottom radiator hose to drain the coolant. Drain the coolant into a plastic reservoir. With the coolant drained, you can start removing hoses, clamps and the radiator bolts keeping the radiator in place.

Why is there an anti collapse spring in the lower radiator hose?

The truth is, you must have an anti-collapse spring in the lower radiator hose if you have an older vehicle with a conventional cooling system. Because the lower radiator hose channels coolant to the water pump and engine, it is susceptible to negative pressure and collapse at high rpm. The anti-collapse spring prevents that from happening.

Why do you need a radiator hose in a car?

Radiator hoses are essential in keeping coolant at the appropriate temperature throughout your engine and cooling system. This not only keeps the engine running at the optimal temperature, but also keeps your vehicle’s heater working at its best.

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Ruth Doyle