The Ford Barn

HD Rider · 05-06-2019, 10:26 PM

Ok, you guessed it.
I'm having trouble with foaming coolant.
Drove about 25 miles Saturday to a nearby town for a little get together and some tacos. Some coolant leaked out looking like shaving cream.
Car is a 31 coup.

mass A man · 05-06-2019, 11:30 PM

I had the same problem until I drained the Prestone and switched to Sierra antifreeze, 50/50 mix. No more foaming. Costs a tad more but it works.

Tom Wesenberg · 05-07-2019, 02:29 AM

Leaking head gasket or water pump seal can let air mix with the coolant. I use regular green antifreeze and never have foaming. Is it overheating?

eagle · 05-07-2019, 06:23 AM

Re-torque the head first, then see how it is. Like Tom said, I too use the regular antifreeze, 50/50. No problems.

30 Closed Cab PU · 05-07-2019, 06:38 AM

Do the above. If still an issue, take the A to a Radiator or an Auto repair Shop and have a Block Test done for exhaust gas in your coolant. Or Napa has a Block Test Kit for around $50 and you can do it yourself, very easy to do.

WHN · 05-07-2019, 07:20 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I would drain the antifreeze into a bucket, than add just plain water.

Drive it to see what you have. Drain the water into a bucket. What it looks like should tell you something.

Smog Tech · 05-07-2019, 08:34 AM

I have seen foaming when using modern "long life" antifreeze. The antifreeze made for cars 1989 and older seems to work much better in Model A's. You can find it in most auto parts stores.

HD Rider · 05-07-2019, 10:57 PM

I'll retorque the head this weekend.
I wonder if adding a surfactant to the coolant would help. When I got home, the head was 176* at it's warmest point between spark plugs. It was not boiling over at any time.

HD Rider · 05-07-2019, 10:58 PM

I forgot to add, the car does have a modern water pump.

eagle · 05-08-2019, 07:10 AM

Another thing, the radiator cap should be sealed. If its not add a rubber seal under it.

HD Rider · 05-09-2019, 10:34 PM

Tonight i retorqued the head nuts. The front two were a little loose. The rest were good.
I also added a surfactant to the coolant. The car is going on a 75 mile drive Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes.

apbright · 05-10-2019, 12:07 AM

Foaming used to be a frequent problem for me, on two different cars. This happened even when doubling up on the rubber radiator cap gasket and double-sealing it with Permetex silicone adhesive.

Ultimately, I found my causes to be, on different occasions:
a) Residual radiator flush cleaner in cooling system
b) Rust from engine block, lodging in radiator tubes, causing poor flow through radiator
c) Overheating, as a result of heat (100ºF outside temp), uphill driving, and a more mild amount of (b)
d) Suspected, but never proven, head gasket leakage, while using the 'Premium Head Gasket,' i.e. Snyders part no. B-6051-M (it seems there are clear, conflicting experiences on this gasket design)
e) Overheating as a result of coolant loss through radiator leak, preventing proper water pump operation and thus proper coolant circulation

Since switching to the 'Best' graphite gasket (i.e. Snyder's part no. B-6051-XO), and having my radiators cleaned in one case and re-cored in another, I have not had these problems.

-Andrew

05-06-2019, 10:26 PM	#1
HD Rider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glendive MT Posts: 155	Foaming Coolant Ok, you guessed it. I'm having trouble with foaming coolant. Drove about 25 miles Saturday to a nearby town for a little get together and some tacos. Some coolant leaked out looking like shaving cream. Car is a 31 coup.

05-06-2019, 11:30 PM	#2
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 712	Re: Foaming Coolant I had the same problem until I drained the Prestone and switched to Sierra antifreeze, 50/50 mix. No more foaming. Costs a tad more but it works.

05-07-2019, 02:29 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Foaming Coolant Leaking head gasket or water pump seal can let air mix with the coolant. I use regular green antifreeze and never have foaming. Is it overheating?

05-07-2019, 06:23 AM	#4
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Foaming Coolant Re-torque the head first, then see how it is. Like Tom said, I too use the regular antifreeze, 50/50. No problems. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

05-07-2019, 06:38 AM	#5
30 Closed Cab PU Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 2,332	Re: Foaming Coolant Do the above. If still an issue, take the A to a Radiator or an Auto repair Shop and have a Block Test done for exhaust gas in your coolant. Or Napa has a Block Test Kit for around $50 and you can do it yourself, very easy to do. Last edited by 30 Closed Cab PU; 05-07-2019 at 06:40 AM. Reason: Typo

05-07-2019, 07:20 AM	#6
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,823	Re: Foaming Coolant Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I would drain the antifreeze into a bucket, than add just plain water. Drive it to see what you have. Drain the water into a bucket. What it looks like should tell you something.

05-07-2019, 08:34 AM	#7
Smog Tech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 145	Re: Foaming Coolant I have seen foaming when using modern "long life" antifreeze. The antifreeze made for cars 1989 and older seems to work much better in Model A's. You can find it in most auto parts stores.

05-07-2019, 10:57 PM	#8
HD Rider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glendive MT Posts: 155	Re: Foaming Coolant I'll retorque the head this weekend. I wonder if adding a surfactant to the coolant would help. When I got home, the head was 176* at it's warmest point between spark plugs. It was not boiling over at any time.

05-07-2019, 10:58 PM	#9
HD Rider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glendive MT Posts: 155	Re: Foaming Coolant I forgot to add, the car does have a modern water pump.

05-08-2019, 07:10 AM	#10
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Foaming Coolant Another thing, the radiator cap should be sealed. If its not add a rubber seal under it. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

05-09-2019, 10:34 PM	#11
HD Rider Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Glendive MT Posts: 155	Re: Foaming Coolant Tonight i retorqued the head nuts. The front two were a little loose. The rest were good. I also added a surfactant to the coolant. The car is going on a 75 mile drive Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes.

05-10-2019, 12:07 AM	#12
apbright Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 169	Re: Foaming Coolant Foaming used to be a frequent problem for me, on two different cars. This happened even when doubling up on the rubber radiator cap gasket and double-sealing it with Permetex silicone adhesive. Ultimately, I found my causes to be, on different occasions: a) Residual radiator flush cleaner in cooling system b) Rust from engine block, lodging in radiator tubes, causing poor flow through radiator c) Overheating, as a result of heat (100ºF outside temp), uphill driving, and a more mild amount of (b) d) Suspected, but never proven, head gasket leakage, while using the 'Premium Head Gasket,' i.e. Snyders part no. B-6051-M (it seems there are clear, conflicting experiences on this gasket design) e) Overheating as a result of coolant loss through radiator leak, preventing proper water pump operation and thus proper coolant circulation Since switching to the 'Best' graphite gasket (i.e. Snyder's part no. B-6051-XO), and having my radiators cleaned in one case and re-cored in another, I have not had these problems. -Andrew Last edited by apbright; 05-10-2019 at 12:12 AM.