Drove to work this morning and about 2/3rds the way there the motor started over heating.
Coolant level was good and no leaks. Water pump is working but when I pressure tested the cooling system it held 15psi with not drop but when I started the motor pressure started building up. I shut it off at 20psi.
Could a bad head gasket cause an over heat?
Or am I looking for a cracked head?
Motor is rebuilt about 2000miles ago
84 2.3 turbo from a mustang with out the turbo hooked up
Big valve head with ranger roller cam
Joe, I would put each cyl. at top center on compression then hook air compressor up to cyl. take up to 80 psi look at radiator water see if it bubbles and while air is in cyl. mine as well check valves and rings. Fred :)
How about your thermostat...?
If you had the pressure tester connected with the eng. running the pressure will continue to climb because it is not designed to release at a given pressure like a rad cap.
What Fred suggested is the best way to check for a crack. But if you don't have the neccesary tools, you might try the old school way - with the cap off, eng. hot & running, 'crack the throttle' open & closed a few times. If you do have compression getting into the system it will "blow" coolant out the rad filler neck. "caution" it will gush out if the crack is large.
Hot & running, check the tail pipe for white smoke or signs of moisture,
would indicate a cracked valve guide.
Hot & running, is the upper rad hose getting hot then warm then hot etc.
"caution fan" somewhat of a way to check the thermostat operation.
Throttle held part way open check for 'flow' in upper rad tank. Rare but possible w/p impeller can become loose on shaft & not be turning although the outer shaft is. *stat must be in the open position for flow*
Verify actual temp w/a coolant thermometer to check the sensor/gauge/idiot light operation. Some anti-freeze testers also have a thermo built in them.
Thanks for all the input.
It appears to been a stuck(closed)T-stat that cascaded into a major engine melt down.
It totally my fault, I drove it another 17 miles after it was over heating.. On the way to work the last 20mile are in the middle of no where and that early in the morning there are things that will eat you. Gators, Black bear and panthers to name a few. Attacks are rare but with my luck I wasnt taking a chance..
Thanks again
Now not wanting this to ever happen again has anyone run a re stricter in place of a T-stat on a daily driver?
Is so what size hole?
i always drill an eighth inch hole in the front facing part of every new thermostat i install in summer i usaully flush the cooling system and put in a pint of 9920"" its a water addative we use in our heating boilers at work...good stuff!!!