Cracked radiator connection return hose

So, the damn return hose connection cracked off the radiator yesterday evening driving home from the woods. I was able to get it home and made sure to add water before moving it again. At first it wouldn't start but with some coaxing she finally started long enough to get her out of my drive way.

I got her cranked this morning, it did sound rough at first, if just for a few seconds. Hoping my engine isn't damaged.

I'm seeing any of the symptoms of a cracked head gasket.

 

Yes sometimes a radiator can crack because of excess pressure inside the cooling system, but they can easily break just from age too

You won't know about the headgaskets until you put a radiator in it, fill it with coolant and drive it. If the engine runs OK, just drive it and watch for anymore overheating or slow coolant loss

Or pull the plugs and do a compression/leak down test before putting a radiator in it

 

Crazy thing, it never showed overheating...

 

Unfortunately if the failure causes air fill the area where the temp sender is you will probably never see the increase in temp on the gauge.

 

Ugh, I hope she's not too damaged...

 

Good luck OP & I hope your engine isn't damaged.

*%#!#& plastic in a mission-critical component operating at high temperature & pressure.

Sigh. If I ever replace my 4.0L radiator it will be with an all-metal aftermarket unit. Although I've read a lot of threads about those & some of them have their own issues with QA/QC.

On my dream wish-list is a separate coolant pressure sensor, connected to an in-cab alarm which blares as soon as pressure drops below a threshold level. It is remarkable how hard it is to locate an affordable aftermarket gauge system that has LOUD audible alarms for thresholds.

I bought & tested a Banks™ iDash system, which has these sorts of "alarms," but they are worthless because the actual alarm notification is just a flashing yellow box on an LCD screen, which the driver may or may not notice depending on angle of vision etc. Unbelievable that Banks™ didn't just put a $0.42 cent piezo buzzer inside the unit and make it available as an audio alarm option in the menu configurations.

 

So, blown head gasket confirmed. I've decided to take it upon myself to repair since this is my hobby truck and it's not my everyday drive. I'll post my findings as I slowly work this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.