C4 vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 27
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From: Paragould, Arkansas
C4 vette
Ok I have a question. I drove my 89 c4 to town thus am to run sum errands. Lot of start and stops. When I got home and got our and shut the door I heard like something boiling! So I unlocked and popped the hood and my radiator and the over flow container was very hot!! My running temp was at about 250. Is this normal??
thanks
thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2019
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From: Mid-Atlantic
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Hopefully it'll be something dumb like a bad thermostat or radiator cap. Or maybe debris stuck between the radiator. Or your fan not running. Or a leaking/bad hose.
If you need to refill coolant, fill it directly into the block before installing a thermostat.
Check all of that first.
Definitely do not put anything out of a bottle into your coolant system that claims to seal leaks.
What's your oil look like? When did you last change your coolant and flush the system?
Do you have a pressure tester? Or access to one?
If you need to refill coolant, fill it directly into the block before installing a thermostat.
Check all of that first.
Definitely do not put anything out of a bottle into your coolant system that claims to seal leaks.
What's your oil look like? When did you last change your coolant and flush the system?
Do you have a pressure tester? Or access to one?
Last edited by Natty C; Jul 9, 2021 at 02:57 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
[QUOTE=Kmoylan;1603706542].......... my radiator and the over flow container was very hot!! My running temp was at about 250. .....QUOTE]
Not normal. Symptoms of a ruptured head gasket allowing exhaust gases into the coolant. Not saying that is your problem, just alerting you to symptoms. Most auto stores have a test kit to determine if there are exhaust gases in the coolant. Simple test.
Over-heating is due to insufficient coolant, blocking coolant flow, air flow, or both, or ruptured head gasket.
I'm betting the siphon event is not occurring (expanded coolant moving to over-flow container when hot,
and not returning to reservoir during cool-down). Any breach in the cooling system will cause the same no-siphon condition, so it doesn't have to be a ruptured head gasket. Insufficient coolant will cause over-heating. One item usually over looked is the gasket for the radiator cap. Due to the excessive torque required to remove the cap, the gasket can be torn or deformed allowing air to enter, and defeat the siphon.
If coolant is continually moving to the over-flow container, and not returning to the reservoir, over-heating will occur.
Not normal. Symptoms of a ruptured head gasket allowing exhaust gases into the coolant. Not saying that is your problem, just alerting you to symptoms. Most auto stores have a test kit to determine if there are exhaust gases in the coolant. Simple test.
Over-heating is due to insufficient coolant, blocking coolant flow, air flow, or both, or ruptured head gasket.
I'm betting the siphon event is not occurring (expanded coolant moving to over-flow container when hot,
and not returning to reservoir during cool-down). Any breach in the cooling system will cause the same no-siphon condition, so it doesn't have to be a ruptured head gasket. Insufficient coolant will cause over-heating. One item usually over looked is the gasket for the radiator cap. Due to the excessive torque required to remove the cap, the gasket can be torn or deformed allowing air to enter, and defeat the siphon.
If coolant is continually moving to the over-flow container, and not returning to the reservoir, over-heating will occur.
Last edited by don hall; Jul 10, 2021 at 08:48 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
What's your oil look like?
As natty C said this is one thing you should check before restarting the car. Since you are not sure how hot it was before you checked or for how long there could be a head gasket problem. Clear oil is what you can hope for. L98 engines are very durable but aluminum heads can warp but fortunately not often.
Follow all of the other suggestions to remedy this issue before driving it again and keep an eye on the temperature guage.
As natty C said this is one thing you should check before restarting the car. Since you are not sure how hot it was before you checked or for how long there could be a head gasket problem. Clear oil is what you can hope for. L98 engines are very durable but aluminum heads can warp but fortunately not often.
Follow all of the other suggestions to remedy this issue before driving it again and keep an eye on the temperature guage.
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2021
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1992 Corvette
Hi Everyone,
I am a new owner of a 1992 corvette convertible and I notice a strong gas smell inside the car....I checked for gas line leaks but didn't find anything. Does anyone have any thoughts on why this is happening? Thanks
I am a new owner of a 1992 corvette convertible and I notice a strong gas smell inside the car....I checked for gas line leaks but didn't find anything. Does anyone have any thoughts on why this is happening? Thanks
Moderator
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From: Parrish FL
St. Jude Donor '06 thru '26
Congrats on your new car. Your question deserves its own thread where you may receive more responses.
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
[QUOTE=don hall;1603707852]FIFY, more clear.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Fuel evaporation system could have a major leak. A scanner should be able to identify this.