Our Ford inline six started overheating a couple weeks ago. We did a gas test which said the head gasket was OK. New thermostat and water pump fitted and also a new radiator has been fitted. Cooling system has been flushed 3 times Fitted a secondary temp gauge and after driving a couple miles its up around 240 degrees. Top and bottom hoses both hot. Think I might have a blockage somewhere. Thinking about taking the head off tomorrow and cleaning out water p***ages. Anyone got any ideas?
If both the top and bottom radiator hoses are hot (same temperature?), it would indicate the radiator has low air flow or is undersized. Pictures would help see the set-up.
If you think there is a block restriction you could remove the stat. Disconnect the rad hoses and stick a garden hose on the suction side see what kind of flow you have. flushed mine like this last week
Does your lower radiator hose have a coil spring inside it to prevent it from collapsing? Did you check the water pump to make sure the impeller isn't slipping on the shaft? Is there a high point in the cooling system that might make it difficult to bleed the air out? Do you have a fan clutch that's failed? Did you leave any shrouding off when you replaced the radiator? Does the engine have a matching Load-O-Matic distributor and carburetor? If you don't have a LOM carb with a LOM distributor you won't get proper ignition advance. Retarded timing will make the engine run hotter. And usually the performance will be noticeably worse. How much manifold vacuum do you have at idle? Have you tried byp***ing the heater core?
Take the thermostat out and do it the opposite way. The more water pressure the better. Could even take the pump off and do it, in case something big is in there that needs to come out. Good luck!
Double check your timing, had a customer who replaced rad, pump, thermostat, hoses and it still was overheating. He wanted me to lift the head. The engine ran ok, not great, had around 86K on it. I noticed after driving onto the hoist the exhaust smelt lean. Before I hooked up the exhaust gas ****iser I checked the timing and it was out. It was a ford 6.
Earlier you told us all the things that had been done . New radiator, thermostat, water pump, flushed 3 times. Now you say nothing changed. This is confusing me. When was the new radiator? New water pump and thermostat? Ben
Thanks for all the replies here. Think we got it. Drained it out earlier and removed the head. Still a lot of water in the block , removed the drain plug from side of engine and nothing came out, had a poke around eventually got real dirty water flowing out. Brushed and flushed all water ways and blown out with air. We had 240 on the temp gauge last time out but the rad was not hot, looks like a circulation problem, no water flowing past the temp sender. Going to fill it with citric acid and let it sit over night then give it another flush in the morning.
All new parts fitted after it started running hot and made no difference. Maybe I should have said this engine is in our 67 Econoline.
Check the byp*** hose (or heater core) for blockage. If the byp*** is plugged up, the engine temperature will rise very quickly and does get to 240- 270 degrees. Then when the thermostat finally opens the temperature will go down.
I would still check that the dist. is advancing properly and that there is no intake vacuum leaks., I have seen some engines go from okay to too hot, but junk in the cooling p***ages didn't just transport there overnight. That takes many years unless someone hates you and dumped in a whole lotta stop leak or something. Good luck gettin' the box back out on the road.
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