I'm currently traveling around with a friend in his 1993 v6. Now I don't have a lot of experience with these motors, only with 22r-re's. But today I noticed that after shutting his truck off, the coolent overflow was completely full, almost to the point of overflowing and there were bubbles coming out of the tube.

This made me think engine compression getting into the cooling system and a blown headgasket. Truck is running fine, not over heating and the heater works fine. I also didn't see any milk shake type stuff on the oil fill cap or any oil in the coolent. After the engine cooled, the resevoir container was nearly empty, all the coolent had been sucked back into the radiator. Maybe I'm over reacting to all the posts I've read about the 3.0's blowing headgaskets? What do you guys think? My friends are road triping up to Canada in a few weeks and I'd like to make sure they don't get stranded along the way. Thanks.

 

Heat makes things expand.

Cold makes things compress.

Hence the purpose of the overflow tank. The coolant will heat up, flow into the overflow tank, and return to the system as the engine cools down.

 

I'd watch it.. If it boils coolant or vents gasses when running, then suspect a problem.

When you shut the motor down, metal in the motor is above boiling. Because the water is no longer circulating, it starts to boil. Your radiator cap should hold about 15psi before it lets the air escape.

Mine boils off also - at the turbo when I turn the truck off...

 

2 words.... Water Wetter....

 

x2. I run it

 

13 PSI

 

Those cooling systems usually dont expand and contract that much under normal conditions. I'm suspecting a blown H/G. Have it checked before it strands you

 

One cannot go wrong with it.

 

What is the condition of the cooling system components? Water pump, thermostat, etc. ?

 

that was my thought too.

 

Thanks for all the feed back. I'd never heard of Water Wetter before, but it sound pretty impressive for only $7. The cooling system look to be in good condition and according to the PO, the headgaskets were changed about 40k ago. I think we'll drive it around town and I'll check it out again with the engine hot and running to see if there's any bubbling coming out of the overflow. If there is, I'll take it some where they can check to see if there are exhaust gases in the coolent. Thanks again.