Blew a hose, coolant everywhere, now having heating issues

[Capt Spaulding]

Interesting. Probably less so for FaDuck, but still interesting.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FaDuck

He did do a Hydrocarbon test and it was negative, so there is no combustion leak. We both checked the reservoir, the radiator cap, the oil cap, and the oil dipstick. No signs of oil in the coolant or vice versa.

So far, all signs indicate no headgasket issue, but I dont know what else to think. The oil leak is coming from the bottom of the block, right above where the lower radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing. There is no indication of oil coming from higher up the block.

The oil has to be seaping through the headgasket doesnt it?

Im about ready to drive it back to Fullblown and have them try and diagnose it.

There are many places the oil can be leaking from. The head gasket is the very least likely. If you blew a head gasket there would be more than oil leaking out.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1413834741

[Turdinator]

Just to add to the chorus, the symptoms sound like a thermostat to me. With age they tend to open less, especially when there has been an overheating incident.

I would put money on the oil leak being unrelated. Could be the timing cover weeping, could be the cam sensor with a weep or it could be someone spilt a drop of oil on the last oil change.

[FaDuck]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

There are many places the oil can be leaking from. The head gasket is the very least likely. If you blew a head gasket there would be more than oil leaking out.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1413834741

For my wallets sake, I hope you are right.

Thank you for the link... I will bring my iPad with me to the shop tomorrow (hopefully) and show him. I will also have him change the oil and inspect it for coolant... I had him hold off on the thermostat, but thinking I should have him replace that as well.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by FaDuck

He did do a Hydrocarbon test and it was negative, so there is no combustion leak. We both checked the reservoir, the radiator cap, the oil cap, and the oil dipstick. No signs of oil in the coolant or vice versa.

So far, all signs indicate no headgasket issue, but I dont know what else to think. The oil leak is coming from the bottom of the block, right above where the lower radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing. There is no indication of oil coming from higher up the block.

The oil has to be seaping through the headgasket doesnt it?

Im about ready to drive it back to Fullblown and have them try and diagnose it.

Might be the valve cover leaking, not the block/head gasket?

[OND]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

The overflow tank is not pressurized and does not need to be air tight.

Yeah, I'm saying the tank should not be airtight to avoid excess pressure once the coolant expands, which could cause the overflow hose to blow off.

[Capt Spaulding]

In principle, the negative HC test should rule out a head gasket. If a head gasket failed catastrophically enough to put enough pressure in the cooling system to blow a hose off, you'd find oil in the coolant.

That still doesn't tell us what it is, just one of the things it's probably not. It could be a T-stat, but I think remember you saying everything was normal until the incident. I've not seen thermostats fail suddenly, they usually go slowly and telegraph their distress. Doesn't mean it didn't. Just makes it more interesting.

[FaDuck]

So wow yeah ok... He replaced the thermostat, and took it out for a spin. He did say it bounced around a bit, but eventually settled around 190F.

He then proceeded to punch it in 2nd, and then in 3rd, and once again coolant everywhere. But this time, it came from the reservoir... He told me he left the reservoir empty. So it completely filled up and popped the cap off, shooting coolant all over.

Someone get me a drink.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FaDuck

So wow yeah ok... He replaced the thermostat, and took it out for a spin. He did say it bounced around a bit, but eventually settled around 190F.

He then proceeded to punch it in 2nd, and then in 3rd, and once again coolant everywhere. But this time, it came from the reservoir... He told me he left the reservoir empty. So it completely filled up and popped the cap off, shooting coolant all over.

Someone get me a drink.

OK so now to step two. Higher pressure rated rad cap. If the the mp has levelled out but you are exceeding the pressure it is the next logical culprit.

[Capt Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

OK so now to step two. Higher pressure rated rad cap. If the the mp has levelled out but you are exceeding the pressure it is the next logical culprit.

This strikes me as a band-aid, rather than a solution. Something changed that led to the behavior OP is experiencing. My reading of the OP's posts suggests everything was working fine for a period of time and then, suddenly, it wasn't. I don't think the spring in the radiator cap weakened enough to lead to this. A higher pressure cap may raise the threshold of coolant ejection, but I don't think it will solve his problem.

I still have a nagging voice that whispers "head gasket." The HC test should have ruled that out, but... It may be getting close to time to bring Full Blown in on this.

@OP: Have you talked to FBM yet?

[Ultramaroon]

Cooling system wasn't properly burped before driving.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Capt Spaulding

This strikes me as a band-aid, rather than a solution. Something changed that led to the behavior OP is experiencing. My reading of the OP's posts suggests everything was working fine for a period of time and then, suddenly, it wasn't. I don't think the spring in the radiator cap weakened enough to lead to this. A higher pressure cap may raise the threshold of coolant ejection, but I don't think it will solve his problem.

I still have a nagging voice that whispers "head gasket." The HC test should have ruled that out, but... It may be getting close to time to bring Full Blown in on this.

@OP: Have you talked to FBM yet?

I still see nothing that shows head gasket. The car is modded beyond the ability of the stock components. They need to be upgraded to deal with the mods.

[ls1ac]

I am very late to this party, but the LS1 had a similar problem due to an air bubble trapped in the block. The air expands and blows the coolant out the overflow catch can.
Either many heat and cooling cycles would alleviate. Or use a vacuum coolant charge system, this helps expand the bubble to get it out.
Just a thought.

[NOI]

Lots of boost. Stock tstat, stock radiator cap, questionable fan timing, and a miniaturized overflow reservoir...

I'm with tcoat, this sounds like a pressure problem created by the above listed components not being sustainably up to spec with your mods.