Loosing antifreeze

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barbee6043

barbee6043

barbee 6043
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Shepherd, Texas ( SE Tx)
'79 Volare 225. When I got it , had a pinhole leak in radiator. Only drove it down the road and back, no distance. Did not run hot at all. I replaced the rad with a new one, thermostat, now it runs hot right away. No leaks, oil if full of water. Is this the head gasket or a crack. Anyway to tell without removing the head. Triple bypass and hernias makes me not want to lift that heavy sucker.
I was thinking of offering it for sale , as I really want an old hotrod. I have a good 318 to go in it, and easier for me to pull entire engines that move a slant head!! Thanks for the input.
 
Does your exhaust have a lot of "smoke" and/or does it smell like steam? Have you done an oil change or popped open the valve cover oil cap to see if the oil is frothy?
 
No white smoke or steam. I added gal or so while ago and the oil level is wayyyyyyyy up! It did not look milky on dip but that is where it has to be! I will drain it this afternoon soon as it is not 105!!
 
barbee6043 said:
No white smoke or steam. I added gal or so while ago and the oil level is wayyyyyyyy up! It did not look milky on dip but that is where it has to be! I will drain it this afternoon soon as it is not 105!!
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If the block is shot, nothing like a good excuse for a v8 swap
 
If it passes a compression test and a leak down test, then it may be a crack in head or block. If it doesn't pass, headgasket and/or warped head probably.
 
65wgn440 said:
If it passes a compression test and a leak down test, then it may be a crack in head or block. If it doesn't pass, headgasket and/or warped head probably.
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Easy way for coolant to migrate to oil pan is via the front/right corner of cyl. head. Gasket has coolant hole very close to large pushrod open cavity (where upper oil drains down). It can leak in this area, either internally or externally, and not affect the combustion chamber - - if sealing still good around each cyl.opening.
 
When you have a suspected cracked block or blown head gasket the first thing to do is check the oil for moisture. If your oil looks milky like chocolate milk, its got water in it.
Smell the exhaust, its easy to dectect antifreeze smell coning out of the exhaust. You can also pull the spark plugs and look for one that is much cleaner than the rest. The water kinda steam cleans it and it will be whitish in color.
On a side note..... I just pulled my 340 to do a re-ring and refresh the engine. It was not leaking any coolant at all. The freeze plugs in the back of the block were rusted about half way off. Inside the block there was years of gunk that was sealing it and keeping it from leaking. Honestly, the core plugs are the most likely culprit if they have not been changed before. Get a mirror and a light and start checking them out.
 
Did you replace the rad cap at the same time?
With a direct-drive fan, my slanty will run under any conditions at rad-cap off and not boil the coolant. Perhaps yours did too, with the pinhole leak. Now , running pressurized, it may be forcing fluid thru an internal leak that was pre-existing, just never an issue at zero-psi.
But like said; chocolate milk is the proof.
 
AJ/FormS said:
Did you replace the rad cap at the same time?
With a direct-drive fan, my slanty will run under any conditions at rad-cap off and not boil the coolant. Perhaps yours did too, with the pinhole leak. Now , running pressurized, it may be forcing fluid thru an internal leak that was pre-existing, just never an issue at zero-psi.
But like said; chocolate milk is the proof.
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It did not run hot at all with the old rad. with the pinhole leak. I have not driven it but just down the country road and back a ways. It would lose a little coolant so I figured I would wait to drive it once I put a new rad, in it. I was also working on other cars.
I have been thinking of selling it off for a while, as the wife as choosen the 62 Lancer Toad! It needs a lot done to get it on the road. The Volare is 100 % rust free which is unusual for that breed, I smoothed out a half dozen small door dings, and thought about painting it this winter before offering it but you know how that is. What ever I do for paint would be wrong for the buyer!
I am made it to 70 yrs of age, and with a triple bypass last Sept, and few hernias, it is getting hard. Slant heads are HEAVY!! ha.... I will be changing out engines in the Toad and that is enough!! It will help when the temps here in SE Tx cool off! Hard on an old man!
 
I just drained the oil- clean just oil. After it started running hot yesterday, and I added a gal. plus, I shut it off and dip read wayyy full. I just I just did not give it time to drain out of tube. I looked under the car and saw nothing leaking. Yep I have had plenty freeze plugs leak over the years.
I pulled out thee new thermostat and ran it without and the water pump was clearing pumping well. Maybe I an get back to store and get more oil/filter and fill the rad. with water this time!!!
 
barbee6043 said:
I just drained the oil- clean just oil. After it started running hot yesterday, and I added a gal. plus, I shut it off and dip read wayyy full. I just I just did not give it time to drain out of tube. I looked under the car and saw nothing leaking. Yep I have had plenty freeze plugs leak over the years.
I pulled out thee new thermostat and ran it without and the water pump was clearing pumping well. Maybe I an get back to store and get more oil/filter and fill the rad. with water this time!!!
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You put another gallon of oil in after it started to run hot?
 
Willyrd said:
You put another gallon of oil in after it started to run hot?
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NOoooooo! I changed the oil to make sure there was NO coolant in it, went to store got gal of oil, and filled the rad. with water this time around. Thermostat is still out. It was a new 190 degree but it could be junk. I have not had time to test it. Still see no leaks. Ran it down the road a couple miles and did not get past the 1 /4 mark.
Trying to finish some filler on the Toad today and just not enough time to do everything! 150% humidity SE Tx does not help us old folk
Net I want to pull some plugs and see what they look like. But tomorrow is day and running here and there! Bout tired for one day!
 
barbee6043 said:
NOoooooo! I changed the oil to make sure there was NO coolant in it, went to store got gal of oil, and filled the rad. with water this time around. Thermostat is still out. It was a new 190 degree but it could be junk. I have not had time to test it. Still see no leaks. Ran it down the road a couple miles and did not get past the 1 /4 mark.
Trying to finish some filler on the Toad today and just not enough time to do everything! 150% humidity SE Tx does not help us old folk
Net I want to pull some plugs and see what they look like. But tomorrow is day and running here and there! Bout tired for one day!
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You had me worried there lol
 
No moisture in oil. I smell nothong at exhaust. Changed the old oil out. I see no leaks at freeze plugs, or anywhere else. I did pull one spark plug yesterday and it is very whitish. I have not had time today to do any type compression test or leak down. Storming again.
Maybe the rain will move East tomorrow and I can drive it down the road some and get temp up. Makes me wonder if the PO put some type of stop leak in it and it occasionally has an internal leak somewhere? I just haven't driven it but just down the road a ways and back. Too much stuff to do just to drive it and nowhere to go!! I need to sell down to a couple cars but....... I don't want to advertise this car till I know there is not a problem with it.
 
I have a rust bucket 1980 Volare with a great powertrain,225/904......... . Might be in the market for a nice roller, say a wagon or sport-back preferred. Also looking for a nice roller for my 367HO, maybe a Ram50,lol
I got engines and such, but only rustbuckets.
 
AJ/FormS said:
I have a rust bucket 1980 Volare with a great powertrain,225/904......... . Might be in the market for a nice roller, say a wagon or sport-back preferred. Also looking for a nice roller for my 367HO, maybe a Ram50,lol
I got engines and such, but only rustbuckets.
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If I decide to sell.. $2900 with 4 new tires, Torq Trusts up front and cop wheels rear, OR $2300 bring your own wheels! That is cash price, not asking price. Has absolutely NO rust, 2 NOS bumpers, new rad. I have smoothed out half doz door dings, scrathches, spot primer. I intend to either repaint this winter or sell as is. I hate to paint it and offer it for sale, as no one likes that color, or all you hear is " what is under the paint!" ha
F bodies in general are not high end cars, But to find one rust free is almost impossible. Car came from Austin area, DRY climate and sat under a roof for ever.
 
Drain and capture coolant, dump a can of K&W block seal in there and some plain water and run it hot per can. Shut it down and let it sit for 24 hours. drain it and refill coolant. Dont hurt your old self for a leak that's gonna be sold. Stuff works.
31QAP9FR9CL.jpg
 
pishta said:
Drain and capture coolant, dump a can of K&W block seal in there and some plain water and run it hot per can. Shut it down and let it sit for 24 hours. drain it and refill coolant. Dont hurt your old self for a leak that's gonna be sold. Stuff works.
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If it does have a leak, I will sell it as is. Ain't going to be me and the wife lifting off that heavy head. Daing sure won't pay Texas mechanic prices for any work! 95% of buyers will put a v8 in there of some sort anyway!
 
barbee6043 said:
If it does have a leak, I will sell it as is. Ain't going to be me and the wife lifting off that heavy head. Daing sure won't pay Texas mechanic prices for any work! 95% of buyers will put a v8 in there of some sort anyway!
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You know I would!lol.
What colors inside and out?
You said 79 right? HYUP, post #1
2dr hardtop sport back by any chance?
or wagon yum.
Shepherd Texas is about 23 hrs straight South of me. They got an airport there?
Ima thinking....................... I might have to get a passport ........... which thing I said I would probably never do......
Is that the same car I saw on FMJ last year? If yes, she looks pretty good.
 
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AJ/FormS said:
You know I would!lol.
What colors inside and out?
You said 79 right? HYUP, post #1
2dr hardtop sport back by any chance?
or wagon yum.
Shepherd Texas is about 23 hrs straight South of me. They got an airport there?
Ima thinking....................... I might have to get a passport ........... which thing I said I would probably never do......
Is that the same car I saw on FMJ last year? If yes, she looks pretty good.
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Same. BUT I have removed all the SE trim (still have), sanded down and filled a few door dings ,scratches, NEW tires and wheels like said, new rad, SO right now it in in a various amount of primered spots. I was going to drive it yesterday, but never had time. We are an hour north of Houston airport. I HATE HOUSTON!! I have 4 speed F body pedals, hump, various A833 andA833 OD with slant bells, and 1 sb slant bells.... , other odd bells...... available at EXTRA cost for anyone wanting to do a conversion.
 
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