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I have a 1996 Ford Tarus running hot. The coolant flows out of the water overflow tank. The themostat has been replaced. The raditor has been flushed. Could the water pump be the problem? Could the heater core been blocked? Could the water flow with a big air bubble cause the car to get hot? If the car has a cracked head or block would the car get hot?
Thanks Minnie
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If the coolant was hot when you noticed water coming out the radiator, that is normal from the heat expansion of the coolant. That is why there are coolant overflow tanks-also called coolant expansion tanks. When refilling coolant, always top up the radiator, and fill the overflow tank to at least the cold mark level (about half-way up on the tank). With cap off, run engine till the thermostat opens- upper radiator hose will become hot-then shut off engine, add coolant to radiator as needed, replace cap. This method of filling will help to expel any trapped air in the system. Oh, and remember to set your heater controls on high when filling coolant, so the heater core and lines also circulate and expel air. Check the seal on the radiator cap that it is still good. The cap seal is important to seal the coolant system, as it is a closed system under about 15 psi of pressure. The reason to pressurize the system is that the pressure will raise the boiling point of the coolant by about 10 degrees- important when you consider how hot the coolant has to be when running. OK, enough tutorial-I don't think you have a problem with the water pump! G'd luck, reeve.
There are several possible causes. Start with the cheapest solution.
1. If you are using water instead of anti-freeze, the water will boil and will get pushed into the overflow tank. Replace the water with anti-freeze.
2. The radiator cap could be bad, allowing hot coolant to exit the radiator and flow into the overflow tank. Have the cap tested or just replace it. It's a cheap item.
3. A leaky head gasket is allowing combustion gases to pressurize the cooling system, which pushes the coolant past the radiator cap. You can easily diagnose this by carefully removing the radiator cap and, with the engine running, observing if there is a continuous stream of bubbles in the coolant. These bubbles are exhaust gas, and you will need to replace the head gasket.
The smoke could be the water boiling. Although it is possible that you blew the head gasket, if the vehicle overheated badly, It is also possible that you still have some air in the system. Replace the thermostat and seal /gasket and run the vehicle while adding coolant. Do not install cap on until both houses upper and lower are hot to the touch. This is an indication that the thermostat opened and coolant is actually circulating. Good luck.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL STILL LOW.ADD MORE COOLANT.UNTIL RADIATOR OVERFLOW FULL AT COLD MARK.THEN CRANK ENGINE UP LET IDLE FEW MINUTES LOOK DOWN COOLANT OVER FLOW JUG ADD MORE COOLANT IF LEVEL DROPPED.WHILE ENGINE RUNNING KEEP EYE ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE.WHEN THERMOSTAT HOSE GET HOT.TURN OFF ENGINE WAIT A LITTLE WHILE TO KEEP FROM GETTING SCALD TAKE LARGE RAG PLACE OVER OVERFLOW JUG RADIATOR CAP.OPEN CAP A LITTLE A TIME.IF COOLANT TRIES BOIL OUT.LET VECHICLE SET A WHILE LONGER.ADD MORE COOLANT.WHEN COOLANT LEVEL CORRECT AND ALL AIR OUT THE COOLANT SYSTEM.IT WILL STOP OVERHEATING.LONG AS ENGINE RUNNING HOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE POUR IN MORE COOLANT UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STOP DROPPING IN RADIATOR.KEEP COOLANT LEVEL IN OVERFLOW AT COLD MARK.DONT OVER FILL OVERFLOW JUG.
you either have a blown head gasket or cracked head both reasons will put compression gas into coolant system since air gets hotter faster than coolant any air in system will cause very fast over heating and push coolant out. the ford 3.0 is has a record of this problem the fix is not cheap and if you do it your self or have a shop do it both heads should be done and the t stat also replacing water pump would be wise
If you're not losing coolant, it's much more likely to be the water pump. Most heater cores leak when they go so although it's not impossible, I'd be very surprised if the heater core was even partly to blame for your overheating problem.
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