PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Since you have bubbles, you need to know if they are combustion gasses or air.

 

I've done all I'm comfortable doing. We are dropping it off at my mechanic tomorrow before we leave for Massachusetts.

 

Napa sells a inexpensive combustion gas test kit.

It is a plastic tube with a rubber cone that goes in your radiator cap hole. You pour in a blue liquid that turns yellow if hydrocarbon byproducts are present.

 

The truck runs fine, isn't overheating, and has no warning lights. However, heater still is not working. I have done all that I feel comfortable doing and am going to let my my mechanic take it from here, unless there's an easy and low-risk way to determine if it is gas or air...

 

Because that’s how life works.
Trust me buddy, I know all about it.
Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do to control what happens in life. You just have to adapted and over come.

At least you have a backup vehicle for the trip. I’d take that trip and enjoy it. I’d tell my mechanic not to call either. I’d call him when you get back. No need to ruin a family trip worrying about it. Have fun and deal with it later

 

Block Tester BT-500 Combustion Leak Test Kit - Made in USA

$37 Block Tester BT-500 Head Gasket Combustion Leak Test Kit - Made in USA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVBSFTF

This one works. It will there when you get home.

 

I vote for this option, deal with it when you get back.

 

Yep, block test is your friend with HG issue. But it takes some patience to get the test right, sometimes have to do it a few times just to be sure. And it doesn't always detect the gases even when they're present but it'll never say "bad HG" if they're OK. Meaning it may give a false negative, but never a false positive.

Headgasket leaks allow excess combustion pressure into a cooling system that is only designed for around 13-18 psi (whatever the rad cap is rated at). It'll make the cooling system act weird, the coolant won't want to flow properly because of the extra pressure.

It can be pushing /blowing out of the rad cap and overflow tank, lack of flow to heater core, oily residue in radiator, gurgling noises in dashboard, etc.. kinda hard to get a handle on if you aren't a experienced mechanic..

Just have a good trip Charlie, don't stress, let your mechanic take a look and deal with it when you get back

 

This is great advice, we hit a deer on our first night of vacation in Florida.

It is still at the body shop 61 days later in Florida. Rental coverage ran out at 30 days.

9 people in my house. Rental van is only 7 passenger. 900 dollars every 30 days for rental and that is a deal, that runs out 28 days from today. Hopefully they get it fixed. I still have to drive to Tallahassee to get it in a rental, and bring it home.

Life is a difficult thing, but enjoy what you can.

I am super stressed about all of this too.

 

Just took it for a drive around the block and the heater is working now!

 

Let us know what your mechanic says. I’m thinking head gasket.

 

So, radiator was low on a antifreeze but there was plenty in the overflow reservoir, there is oil in the coolant but no coolant in the oil, and the truck is running fine and showing no signs whatsoever of overheating. WTF is going on here?!?! How did I not nuke my engine?!?!

 

99% sure I know exactly what the problem is, so my mechanic isn't going to ruin my vacation by calling me in Massachusetts to confirm my suspicions...

 

Air in the system? What engine?

 

2TR-FE with a 4-speed auto...

 

I'm 99% sure I know what the problem is and I really would like to have the truck ready and waiting when I get home. If I let the truck sit for a week while I'm in Massachusetts, then it'll be out of commission for another week while I wait for an appointment. Once I get back from MA, I've got shit to do that I need the truck for...

 

let it cool down a little. But check your radiator fluid again its prob low since the coolant wasnt in there.

Sounds like a head gasket going out.

 

Usually 2 smaller hoses around 1' going right into the firewall.

 

My friend Dave thinks there's a blockage somewhere; Pete should be able to pressure test it tomorrow, and the truth will be revealed...