Surge tank bubbling
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Surge tank bubbling
I noticed the other day that the high mounted surge tank began to bubble after I shut off the engine. Bubble as in boiling...lots of noise. Is this telling me to get a new cap for it, cause it is not holding pressure?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by LannyL81; Jan 18, 2007 at 11:13 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,594
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From: Bartlett Illinois
is the coolant foamy on the top too? could be head gaskets
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Coolant in surge tank is not foamy, appears completely normal. Level once the coolant cools off is right near the top.
I just had the engine idling in the driveway last night; digital temp went to 225 and the main radiator fan came on, dropping temp to 205. I then shut it off.
The one thing I did notice was that the overflow bottle level never changed from the cold level. I had the heater going, trying to see if I could get more than just warm air out during all of this. But the overflow level bothers me.
Exhaust was also rather humid and I was dripping water at the muffler weld. The dripping stopped after all was hot, so I assume it was just condensation in the exhaust...but maybe not...maybe I do have a leaking head gasket or two.
I just had the engine idling in the driveway last night; digital temp went to 225 and the main radiator fan came on, dropping temp to 205. I then shut it off.
The one thing I did notice was that the overflow bottle level never changed from the cold level. I had the heater going, trying to see if I could get more than just warm air out during all of this. But the overflow level bothers me.
Exhaust was also rather humid and I was dripping water at the muffler weld. The dripping stopped after all was hot, so I assume it was just condensation in the exhaust...but maybe not...maybe I do have a leaking head gasket or two.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 9
[QUOTE=donhall;1558578702]
That covers it all
...."surge tank began to bubble after I shut off the engine. Bubble as in boiling...lots of noise."
.....Boiling is normal at shut-down as the cooling process has stopped.
"I am not holding pressure".....
......The cap is doing its' job, releasing excess pressure and expanded coolant into the overflow bottle.
What you want to be concerned about is the level of coolant in the surge tank when "cold". If the tank is not full when cold, then there is a break in the 'closed system', and coolant is not being siphoned back from the bottle to the tank as cooling takes place. Check all hose connections for any trace of moisture, making sure the connection in the over-flow bottle is secure and submerged. If the 'break' is small, moisture may not be evident due to immediate evaporation on a hot surface.
If coolant is not evident around the tank neck when the boiling occurs, then you can eliminate a break in the neck as a problem. Pressure would force coolant to be expelled through any fracture.
If the surge tank is not refilled during cooling (and the over-flow bottle is always full when cold), and there is no evidence of a break in the system, then one can suspect exhaust gases may be entering the cooling system through the head gasket. If operating temps are normal, then you probably don't have a head gasket problem.
.....Boiling is normal at shut-down as the cooling process has stopped.
"I am not holding pressure".....
......The cap is doing its' job, releasing excess pressure and expanded coolant into the overflow bottle.
What you want to be concerned about is the level of coolant in the surge tank when "cold". If the tank is not full when cold, then there is a break in the 'closed system', and coolant is not being siphoned back from the bottle to the tank as cooling takes place. Check all hose connections for any trace of moisture, making sure the connection in the over-flow bottle is secure and submerged. If the 'break' is small, moisture may not be evident due to immediate evaporation on a hot surface.
If coolant is not evident around the tank neck when the boiling occurs, then you can eliminate a break in the neck as a problem. Pressure would force coolant to be expelled through any fracture.
If the surge tank is not refilled during cooling (and the over-flow bottle is always full when cold), and there is no evidence of a break in the system, then one can suspect exhaust gases may be entering the cooling system through the head gasket. If operating temps are normal, then you probably don't have a head gasket problem.
That covers it all
