rear mounted radiator questions

RiverMan

New Member
Joined
May 26, 2009
Location
East Bend, NC
I'm running a 5.3 with stock water pump and the raditor in back with 2 tarus fans and a 160 termostat. It ran at 180 to 210 all day friday at ure. Then late friday night it blew a hose off figured it just wasn't on good. Filled it then sat it blew again on the way to the trail. My question is why could it be from air in the system? Also after filling up and jacking rear up I let it run to try and let the air work out and at 250 I could not see any water flowing and rad was cool while engine was hot. Could I need a water pump or was air bubble just locked in. Does anyone run electric water pumps. If anyone has anyone has had to deal with this let me here from ya
 
Lots of people on Chucks Trucks forum run them, check around there also.
 
I know several people that have had the same problem. 1 out of 4 was the water pump, the other three were all just air pockets. Most of the time its air in the system.
 
The highest point in the system is the cap on the radiator but I also have a cap up front to. The lines run down along inside of tub then up to the radiator. Might try lifting it with tractor will it runs maybe work the air out.
 
YES, an air lock is the most likely problem. If your rad cap is the highest point on cooling system/engine you need to do this. First look and see if you have a bleeder valve at the thermostat housing or very close to it, if so open it! If you don't you need to remove the hose at the thermostat housing and SLOWLY fill at the rad cap allowing air to escape thru housing end. This process will purge air out of all traps and assure you have a full system. When you get antifreeze mixture coming out of therm housing replace hose back on, tighten clamp, and slowly finish filling, and then get ready to wheel. Just remember that you have to vent at both ends to eliminate air pockets. Anybody who tells you that air will work itself out of a system don't know much about cooling systems. Trust me, I melted down a brand new rebuilt sbc because of a dang air lock, one real expensive lesson:alien:. I also have several years experience working at a rad shop. Hope this helps!
 
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