how is it that i let my truck get to operating temps and it runs and gets hot enough until the engine just spews hot radiator fluid out of the thermostat housing, intake to water pump hose, and everywhere...BUT the freakin radiator was almost cold as ice. i could EASILY unscrew the cap. no pressure at all behind it. but i know there was pressure behind the fluid because all the hoses where screw clapped TIGHT and thermostat housing screws were also tight. of course, i shut the engine off and let it rest for a few. crank it back up and within a minute, started spewing again. what do you guys think?

 

sounds like the thermostat might have gone bad if the engine is getting to operating temperature but the rad is not getting hot.

 

Could be the thermostat or it could be the water pump. The thermostat is the easiest and cheapest to check so I would start there.

 

ok cool cause i would hate to have to replace the water pump this early in the truck ownership..but then again..at least i would know its been replaced. we have a couple good thermostats around here so im going to go throw one in an let you guys know what happpens.

 

i would have a hard time seeing the water pump on these trucks fail unless you where running straight water in the engine. i could the the gasket or seals on it going bad first.

 

lol when i got the truck, there was apparently, a mixture or radiator fluid and radiator stop leak stuff. but mostly radiator fluid. ive read that the block could be dirty due to it sitting for many a year. what do you think about a block flush.?

 

if the rad fluid looked good i would leave the fluid alone. the only thing that could most likely need a flush is usually the heater core if you are not getting good heat in the cab.

 

We all have different experiences in life. I've seen the impeller separate from the shaft and fall out on the ground when the water pump was removed. It is not like we know the history of this truck and from what I am reading I would question the maintenance level.

 

yea, the fluid looked real good. pretty darn green. and as far as maintenance, the previous owner was a lady who took it to her "family mechanic" shop when it had problems. and i was mistaken, it was the right side hose from the heater core that was spewing, not the hose connecting the water pump and intake. i also took the thermostat out and ran it and it leaked pretty freakin bad around the thermostat housing.

 

you might have to use something like a silicone gasket maker to get the housing to stop leaking. when i replaced mine there was a fair bit of silicon on the thermostat housing but after replacing the thermostat i understood why. with just a gasket i have a very tiny leak. next time i am using gasket maker.