Brokemillwright

Park with the filler neck being on the high side, start with a cold engine and cap off, fire it up with heater defrost on high and max heat to circulate everything. Monitor the level until no more bubbles come out. Without the fancy little kit it's a tad messy bit I've done it twice now. I've tried taping a waterbottle with the end cutoff on the filler neck for when the coolant rises but it's kinda hopelse's as i never got a good seal. Takes at least an hour from a drained system. Look up on YouTube if you need more direction

Fishnaked

Ok. I bled the system and installed a new cap. Coolant level in radiator was just inside the neck. Coolant level in overflow was at the "cold" line. I drove it 90 miles without stopping. Once stopped, I checked the overflow level and the coolant was near the top. I checked it the following day and the level was still near the top in the overflow tank. I checked the level in the radiator. I could just see the coolant.

I drove the truck 90 miles home and checked the overflow once stopped. Still near the top. I checked the level in the radiator the next day. The same as before: I could just see the coolant.

I have since driven the truck a bit around town. Same story with the levels.

The coolant doesn't want to leave the overflow tank...BUT, things seem stable. I guess that's ok... until the truck runs hot and spits more coolant into the tank. There's not room for much more.

Is what I'm describing even an issue?

88xlt

Just another thought here. Is the small hose that runs from the radiator to the overflow tank stiff and unobstructed inside? If that hose is wimpy or somewhat plugged inside, the coolant can easily flow out of the radiator under pressure, but can't be sucked back into the radiator as it cools down. If I had this problem I would be inclined to replace that hose with one that has good sidewalls and fits tight on the ends.

Fishnaked

Thanks. It's definitely not obstructed. I ran water through it when I had it off. The sidewalls seemed normal. Nothing wimpy about it. There seems to be a good seal on both ends too with clamps.

Steve83

That caption in my first reply explains why the coolant doesn't return to the radiator. Consider this:


(phone app link)

Fishnaked

Thanks. Sorry but I've looked through your post yet I don't see it. Could you explain, please?

Steve83

You don't see the images I'm posting?

Fishnaked

Yes, I see the images you're posting. But, for some reason, I fail to see the answer you allude to.

Steve83

Are you clicking those thumbnails & reading their captions? Did you read paragraph #6 in the 2nd pic in my first post?

Fishnaked

Yes and yes. I have read it over and over. But I'm not grasping what you're trying to get across. Ok? I've changed my cap. I've inspected the small hose from radiator to overflow and I don't think it's that. Another hose collapsing? Maybe the upper hose going from radiator to engine? Too much coolant as you mentioned earlier? I don't know! If I did, I wouldn't be here asking for help...

You care to explain now?