Running hotter than normal

[952DrTahoe]

Hey Guys, I've been a member for a little while now researching the site and have learned a lot. Back in January I purchased a 1995 Tahoe 2dr sport and use it for work (whenever i need to carry equipment) and to trailer a 20' center console. She has 161,000 miles and only gets used once or twice a week. I recently took a trip down to the keys (with the boat) and on the way back up I noticed the water temp gauge a bit higher. Last weekend I took the boat out again locally and when I got to the ramp the gauge was all the way and the check gauge lights came on. Added some water at the end of the day and went home. Is this just a case of draining the radiator fluid and putting in new coolant? Could there be a leak? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[retorq]

If the radiator was completely empty and you ran it until the warning light came on you probably did some damage somewhere ... I would start with a coolant flush and fill and find your leak/damage.

 

[952DrTahoe]

No it wasn't completely dry. I was able to fill it up with only half of a water bottle. Still has coolant just wondering why all of a sudden it's acting up. Could it be from the towing?

 

[SunlitComet]

ensure you have the right coolant ratio in there to help prevent boil over. a clean path of air from he a/c condenser all the way to the fan. A properly working fan clutch and shroud in place. you should have no problem towing 6k without overheating. inspect and smell oil and tranny fluids to see if they are stressing out they transfer their heat to the radiator for cooling.

 

[jsmith14]

ou are out of water-more properly called "coolant" because it is mixed with ethylene glycol antifreeze o prevent it from freezing. The water pump fails. Rare, but the impeller can come off the shaft without any external symptoms. Usually, when the water pump fails the seal becomes compromised and it bleeds coolant all over the ground. The hoses are kinked or blocked. The engine's water jacket is lined with lime from running really hard water through the system for years. Not terribly likely. The radiator cap holds in pressure to prevent the coolant from boiling. If the radiator cap is bad, it will allow the coolant to boil out.

 

[domin8]

That covers everything except the thermostat. Might as well name sure it isn't stuck closed.

 

[gpracer1]

Then of course you get down to the nasty.....blown head gasket or cracked head or block in which the combustion gasses pressurize the cooling system beyond what the cap can hold and all the coolant is forced out.

 

[SunlitComet]

There is a tester for that too.

 

[952DrTahoe]

I changed the Oil and Drained the radiator on Sunday. Added in the premix 50/50 "Coolant" and she seems to be running better. I guess the true test will come when I tow the boat again. Thats when the heating issue began. I've checked for leaks and everything looks good.

@SunlitComet Whats the testing method for that?

 

[SunlitComet]

There is a device you put on your radiator in place of cap. You add some chemical to it and if it sniff out combustion gases in the coolant it changes color. Autozone might have one for loan with a deposit place on it. You could also look in the reservoir for bubbles once you are sure the air in the coolant system is bled out. If you are bubbles in it while running afterwards you are getting gases in from the combustion chambers.