The Ford Barn

gary678* · 09-03-2017, 07:51 AM

Occasionally the radiator overflows after 1 mile of riding; other times it goes for 50 miles with a constant temperature of 160. Water pump problem ??

Tom Wesenberg · 09-03-2017, 08:22 AM

Do you move the spark advance to the right position each drive?
Is the coolant boiling, or just filling the top tank and going out the overflow pipe?
If it only overflows when you drive faster than 45 or so, then the radiator doesn't have the flow capacity it needs. It's either too small or plugged.

gary678* · 09-03-2017, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the reply. At times it it simply goes out the overflow tube. Most recently it boiled over thru the cap after 1 mile going approx. 30 MPH. Refilled it and it was fine. Spark advance used correctly to the best of my limited experience (500 miles with this car)

jw hash · 09-03-2017, 09:23 AM

bad head gasket

redmodelt · 09-03-2017, 01:00 PM

Too much water. Water expands and needs head space. If you over fill it tends to push out the overflow tube or if the cap is loose or bad gasket, out there. Only needs to be filled to bottom of baffle. Could also be the pump it moving too much water, maybe try installing a thermostat and see if that helps.

Fred K-OR · 09-03-2017, 01:58 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jw hash

bad head gasket

Do you have a lot of black liquid coming out the exhaust? If so, this could be it.

1930artdeco · 09-03-2017, 08:08 PM

mine would spit water for two reasons:

A) the rad neck is crooked so the cap would not seal well
b) crack in the block-exhaust side.

Mike

1crosscut · 09-03-2017, 09:35 PM

You should not ever have water coming out past the radiator cap. It is not a pressurized system so you have a bad cap, gasket or such.
Having water come out of the overflow tube is not unusual. Go ahead and allow water to go out the overflow tube and let it seek the level it is comfortable with. As long as the tubes in the radiator core remain covered you will be fine. If you keep "filling" the radiator to the top you will almost guarantee water will puke out again and again...
Get an inexpensive dial meat thermometer and put it in the coolant in the radiator so you know for sure what temperature you are running.
Tom makes a good point in post number two. Are you advancing the spark as it should while driving?

09-03-2017, 07:51 AM	#1
gary678* Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 170	Losing water- no leaks Occasionally the radiator overflows after 1 mile of riding; other times it goes for 50 miles with a constant temperature of 160. Water pump problem ??

09-03-2017, 08:22 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Losing water- no leaks Do you move the spark advance to the right position each drive? Is the coolant boiling, or just filling the top tank and going out the overflow pipe? If it only overflows when you drive faster than 45 or so, then the radiator doesn't have the flow capacity it needs. It's either too small or plugged.

09-03-2017, 09:07 AM	#3
gary678* Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 170	Re: Losing water- no leaks Thanks for the reply. At times it it simply goes out the overflow tube. Most recently it boiled over thru the cap after 1 mile going approx. 30 MPH. Refilled it and it was fine. Spark advance used correctly to the best of my limited experience (500 miles with this car)

09-03-2017, 09:23 AM	#4
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,662	Re: Losing water- no leaks bad head gasket

09-03-2017, 01:00 PM	#5
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,410	Re: Losing water- no leaks Too much water. Water expands and needs head space. If you over fill it tends to push out the overflow tube or if the cap is loose or bad gasket, out there. Only needs to be filled to bottom of baffle. Could also be the pump it moving too much water, maybe try installing a thermostat and see if that helps. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

09-03-2017, 08:08 PM	#7
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,785	Re: Losing water- no leaks mine would spit water for two reasons: A) the rad neck is crooked so the cap would not seal well b) crack in the block-exhaust side. Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

09-03-2017, 09:35 PM	#8
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 2,011	Re: Losing water- no leaks You should not ever have water coming out past the radiator cap. It is not a pressurized system so you have a bad cap, gasket or such. Having water come out of the overflow tube is not unusual. Go ahead and allow water to go out the overflow tube and let it seek the level it is comfortable with. As long as the tubes in the radiator core remain covered you will be fine. If you keep "filling" the radiator to the top you will almost guarantee water will puke out again and again... Get an inexpensive dial meat thermometer and put it in the coolant in the radiator so you know for sure what temperature you are running. Tom makes a good point in post number two. Are you advancing the spark as it should while driving? __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska