Hey, driving home from school today my truck overheated! Which I found strange, because I topped up the coolant yesterday. I opened the hood to find that the resevoir, which is usually not very full, was overflowing and coolant had poured everywhere.

Would that be caused by a thermostat biting the dust or something?
this is on my 22r

 

ummmmm, do you still have a water pump belt on there?

 

yes I do

 

hehe, ok, just check'n... start with the small things first ya know

It could be the t-stat, that's an easy fix if so, and one that wont cost but $10.

what's your antifreeze/water mixture like? not only does antifreeze do what the name implies (keeps the coolant from freezing in freezing tempuratures), but it also raises the boiling point of the coolant so that it can get to normal operating temp without boiling over. Depending on you location and climate, typical mixture is about 50%-75% antifreeze; I try to keep mine closer to 65%-70% here in the Sunshine State (even though I woke up this morning to flipp'n ice all over my truck...)


you said this happened while driving home from school; like in the city at and stop-and-go pace, or more of a constant over 45mph driving situation?

 

Well its not a very big city, only a 5 minute drive to get home actually. Mostly go and not stop, cruising at like 50 kph, so like 35 mph?

 

oh and the antifreeze to water mixture, its a little over 50% antifreeze.

 

hmmm, ok, well that's good.

honestly, just cause it's reletively quick (a whopping 2 bolts and a hose clamp) and pretty cheap, I'd try the t-stat and see what happens; any idea how old the current one is?

 

Thanks, I will check those options out. I hope its just the T-stat, I would not be happy about a head gasket failure

 

I ran it with the rad cap off, no bubbles, and then I took it for a 5-10 minute drive and the temperature didnt go up at all. That leads me to believe it is the thermostat, and it was just stuck before, and now its working maybe? Either way I am going to replace it

 

let us know how it works out

 

yea hears hoping. I had the lower return hose burst on the highway, going up a 10 mile long MASSIVE hill. Anyone from TN know the mountain, as you head up to the cumberland headed from Chatt to Nash well thats a serious grade for a long ass time. Less than half way up, I start seeing mist everywhere. CRAP.

I had to pull over. It was like 2 am. I had to call a friend in mboro to drive to me with water. I threw water in it, and drove to the very top. At a gas station he and I did some duct tape magic to get me home to where all my tools were.

So yea, overheating. scary. Even a little overheat, your always a little nervous on these older engines. Things are older, seals weak...luckily mine didnt really overheat. As soon as I saw my coolant shooting out, I stopped.