Random coolent leak

[backfrmcolorado]

so i just went up to the gas station to get a pack of smokes and right when i puled into the lot i smeel antifreeze. got out ant it looked like the exorcist. coolent just going everywhere like the X was pukeing lol. turned the truck off real quick pulled air throat off and checked what happened. blew upper rad hose. luckly i had a full jug of 50/50 in the back of my x. put hose back on filled her back up, burped the system and made it back home again. what a night.

just last year i put in new water pump, both hoses, new rad, new therostat, and fresh new coolent.

Question is... i just had to put a new rad cap on yeaterday. could it be that with all the new pressure built up by the new cap that it was to much pressue and mabey a lose clamp. this type of thing has never happened to me and im not sure whats going on or the cause. kinda worrying me since ive seen small amount of coolent on the ground and can see small amount on the engine brock in the front and next to the pump.

WTF is going on... any thought or sugestions would help out. thanks to all if you can help me with any thoughts.

 

[surf]

The cap could be defective causing it to build too much pressure.

 

[gmanpaint]

I highly doubt a good cap is to blame. It could cause pressure to build and blow a hose, but the real problem is something else.

It would boil over in the reservoir first before anything if the overflow tube is connected.

If the air was bled correctly, (some times it takes a few tries),
I suspect a bad thermostat at the minimum, or a bad pump at the max.

Warm up the engine with the cap off, and watch for the thermostat to open. If it starts to drain and you get a flow of coolant inside the Rad, both stat & pump are good to go.

If it starts to flow over the open rad, either your stat or pump is bad.

 

[backfrmcolorado]

thanks guys... ill try it with the cap off tomorrow in the daylight.
and with the air bleading i had to do it about 3 times r ight after the new pump and at least another 3 times since then, cuz it always drains down. but last nite all i did was slowly pour the 50/50 jug in and as soon as it overfloaded id stop and let it suck it in. finaly made it to the last lil bit in the jug and it was topped off... just reved engine so it would suck down to put the cap on. and the overflow tank didint have any coolent in it at the time of the blow out. but was just topped off two days ago at oil change.

 

[gmanpaint]

Try jacking up the front of the rig as high as you can safely, then bleed it out.

 

[surf]

After rereading your post it sounds like you might have a bad gasket (possibly intake manifold, timing cover or head). You should get a pressure test to confirm.

 

[backfrmcolorado]

After rereading your post it sounds like you might have a bad gasket (possibly intake manifold, timing cover or head). You should get a pressure test to confirm.

damn... thats the last thing i need to have happen. but after i lowered the back down after sitting i dont have anymore spots. one guy i talked to told be sometimes an upper gasket goes bad and coolent leaks out and can sit on top of valley pan and roll off. ? . ? that would explain the leak if it was the intake manifold gasket right.

im going to be putting new valve cover gaskets on this week b4 i go on a trip for easter. ill just replace all upper gaskets and inspet the engine and heads while im at it. after fixing the fuel pump leak im not in the mood for another troubelsome leak.

thanks for the help guys.