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Radiator keeps pushing fluid out

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by ghost, Dec 31, 2005.

  1. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

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    My radiator is original. I have a hard time keeping fluid in it, I have tried not to over fill it, keeping fluid level about one inch below cap. Put a new 14 pound cap on it, still wants to empty the radiator out, especially when I get heavy on the throttle.

    Should I look at changing temp on thermostat? Should I warm up car more ?

    Would a radiator flush help?
     
  2. zrayr

    zrayr Well-Known Member

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    what car/engine ??
    could be leaking head gasket or just air in cooling system. Have you done a leak-down compression test of each cylinder or a pressure test of the cooling system. Those are the places to start troubleshooting.

    Z. Ray
    6s1117
     
  3. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

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    68 GT350, 302 engine. Have not pressure checked the system. We did put new hoses on it, all the fluid is blowing out of the radiator hose that comes off the top of the radiator at the top of the radiator at the cap.
     
  4. SFM6S2015

    SFM6S2015 Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like it's time for the alum. heads you were asking about
     
  5. zrayr

    zrayr Well-Known Member

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    http://www.mustangsplus.com/Merchan...FMP&Product_Code=07275&Category_Code=overflow

    Get one these overflow tanks if you don't already have one. With this type, the coolant will be sucked back into engine as it cools, with zero loss.

    I never had an overheating problem, but still had coolant overflow. Which was fixed by a combination of a 16 lb radiator cap, an overflow tank, and "burping" the system to remove air trapped in the engine block. Hope this helps
    Z. Ray
    6s1117
     
  6. daltondavid

    daltondavid Well-Known Member

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    the radiator could be clogged up if it is the original.
     
  7. Texas Swede

    Texas Swede Well-Known Member

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    My 65 C-code Mustang did exactly the same.
    No overheating, only spitting out anti-freeze.
    Had a lot of Calcium deposits in both radiator
    and waterpump. Previous owner had water only in it
    for many yaers. Had the original radiator professionally
    cleaned and no it's fine. No spitting at all.
    Happy New Year!
    /Texas Swede
     
  8. The Commissioner

    The Commissioner Well-Known Member

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    Had same issues, I attacked everything at once, had the radiator cleaned, replaced the old nasty heater core, pulled the heads, had them cleaned, and haven't had any issues since. Didn't touch the water pump, and since all this work was done 8 years ago, I think I cured my problems.
     
  9. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

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    Follow up. Took radiator off, it was clean as a whistle per the radiator shop.
    Put on a fluid over flow container like you guys suggested. The engine pumped out about a gallon of fluid the first day. So I refilled the radiator and put fluid in the container, filling it half way. Seems to work. Will follow up.
     
  10. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

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    Well heres the story of my radiator leak.

    The radiator was clear, changed caps, added the overflow/collector tank, put block sealer in it. The car still lost half a gallon of fluid in about every time I got the revs up.

    Had the guys at RATS pull off the heads. There were small leaks in the head gaskets and the engine block on top of the pistons was not smooth.

    So they yanked out the engine and we are going to get the head smoothed out and a really good head gasket.

    Will let you know the outcome, all of your input has been appropriate and led me in the right direction.

    One of the spark plugs had evidence of water on it, we never did see any water in the oil.

    This engine is the original, the head gasket appears to have been changed sometime previously.
     
  11. SFM6S2015

    SFM6S2015 Well-Known Member

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    Sounds like it's time for the alum. heads
     
  12. ghost

    ghost Well-Known Member

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    I have put about every darn thing I can do into this car, Aluminum heads may be the next step.

    Final result on my radiator pushing fluid out:
    Anyway, the leak is gone. It was warped engine block heads and leaky gasket. I can now run car hard and at high rpm and the radiator fluid is staying in.
     
  13. daltondavid

    daltondavid Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the update!!
     
  14. SFM6S2015

    SFM6S2015 Well-Known Member

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    Great that it's fixed. Hope to see it at some local shows!

    Larry
     

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