Hey everyone. Trying to figure out what's happening with my truck. 1996 1500 5.9 4x4.
so I just got back from a trip down in British columbia to help my grandfather get firewood. Where we get the logs is up on the mountain and takes about half hour to climb up. Had the truck in 4 Low and slowly climbed up the rocky road. The grade is pretty steep at some spots. I did the ride the day before but stopped half way up and let the truck cool off . This time I made it 3/4 ways up and noticed a slight burnt smell. Also I have a transmission temp and it was getting hot past 200F. So I pulled over and popped the hood. And WOW! My whole radiator overfill was full of extreme hot boiling coolant!! I have never seen this before so I let all cool down and poured some water in and made it the rest way up. What could cause this ? Stuck thermostat ? Coolant was topped off before I did this journey. I did noticed the lower rad hose seems "collapsed " cause I could squeeze it then feel the metal coil in it. Maybe that's stopping the flow slightly ? My grandpa has the same truck but a 3/4 ton with the 318 and made it up to the top no problem. Oh and to top it off my thermostat gauge doesnt work on my truck cause it a 2001 motor with 96 wiring. I need to get that fixed asap aswell.
has anyone every seen a boil over like this??

 

Bad thermostat, clogged radiator, or the vanes worn off the water pump, are the only things I can think of, aside from a failing head gasket.......

 

I'm gonna guess thermostat for now. I replaced the radiator to a better shape one a year ago. I just drove 9 hours today back home over mountain passes and no problem at all. It just didnt like that slow climb

 

May wanna check the fan clutch then as well. If yours is original, probably time for a new one.

 

You can drill and tap another port for the temp sensor or use the older intake. If you haven't done the plenum gasket fix yet that would be a good time to do it.

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. I was gonna drill and tap a whole for where it sits now. I had throttle body off the other day and didnt notice really alot of oil in there. But maybe I should still do it...

 

I'm not sure if it's original or not. I did buy this 2001 motor and got it professionally rebuilt. But I doubt he put a new one on. Just all new internals

 

Still have your old intake? If you do, tear that one down, clean it up, do whatever else to it you want, then just swap 'em out.

 

nope I dont. Either I carefully drill a hole with a vacuum or I remove the intake

 

Put some heavy grease on the drill bit, and cut slowly. Clean and re-grease often.