radiator tank explosion!!!!

[janderson4010]

I loaned my explorer out to my buddy bk his blazer crapped out on him(stupid chebbies). Anyway he went out of state and took his wifes car and she drove my explorer for a few days, so at like 9 in the evening a few weeks ago I get a call from her that the explorer made a horrible noise and all the coolant spewed out and can I come pick her and the explorer up, so I grabbed the trailer and a few tools hoping it blew up a rad hose or something, but when I got there this is what I found,

the plastic tank on the side of the radiator where the upper hose goes in had self destructed and all the coolant was gone. I've never seen such a thing happen, I didn't know a cooling system could build enough pressure for this to happen, the only thing I can think is that the thermostat and the cap seized closed at the same time and as it built pressure the radiator couldn't handle it. Any thoughts on this radiator failure?

 

[Turdle]

13-16 psi

I have heard of hinges failing on doors for pressure vessels. JUst 1PSI can throw a steel door across a room. That looks like a 4-5 square inch area, so-could have been 60-75lbs of force behind that piece. If there was a crack starting, then yes it will blow out like that.

 

[janderson4010]

13-16 psi

I have heard of hinges failing on doors for pressure vessels. JUst 1PSI can throw a steel door across a room. That looks like a 4-5 square inch area, so-could have been 60-75lbs of force behind that piece

I've seen hoses burst before, I've just never seen the tank on a radiator come apart lol. I'm gonna put the radiator out of my BII in it(its out of an explorer) and pick up a bigger better radiator for the Bdos. Any suggestions on radiators? the Bdos is a crawler so extra cooing capacity couldn't hurt.

 

[RickOTR]

Had the same thing happen to mine but not as bad as yours. It all started with one small crack and in a matter of a few days burst.

 

[janderson4010]

yeah my cousins 2nd gen has a crack in that same spot he said, must be a common failure point

 

[janderson4010]

does anyone have a suggestion on a bigger capacity radiator for these? is there an OEM 2 row rad that came in explorers?

 

[RickOTR]

The 97 Explorers like mine came with the 2 row. Starting in 98, Ford went to a one row radiator.

 

[dmontigny]

I have just developed a crack in that EXACT same spot. I plan to pick up a replacement radiator this afternoon and I hope the existing one makes it home! I felt fine until I saw this post!!!