over heated just once

[jsomedaysoon]

my bronco isn't a daily driver. we just take it out on the beach about ever other weekend. usually i slack the tires down and it does really really well. so this last weekend i got lazy and decided not to air down my tires. i'm runnin 33's and i really stressed the motor i could feel it boggin down but i was hard headed and refused to stop and air them down sinse this guy in front of me with some chevy thing was makin it just fine. so anyway when i finally found a good spot to park for a while and shut the truck off i heard somethin goin crazy under the hood. i opened the hood and the antifreeze was boiling out of the rezevoir. it did this for about 3 to 5 mins then calmed down. i let the motor cool for a few hours then slacked the tires and it did fine all the way back off the beach.

so now my question is.... can the back up of antifreeze be just because i stressed it out that one time or is it a sign of something worse like a water pump messed up or thermostat? the gage doesent work so i couldnt tell exactly how hot it got.

 

[Seabronc]

It could be a small warning of something not functioning up to par in the cooling system. First, I'd get a gauge or fix the one that is there, more likely the sender than the gauge. I prefer a gauge that reads in degrees and have both the stock and aftermarket gauge running.

Also, I would do a good service on the cooling system, like a flush, new thermostat, and perhaps even a new cap. That should also help even if the problem was only because you were stressing it. On my system, I have a HD radiator, 185 degree tstat, electric fan, and do a periodic flush ( about once a year).

Good luck,

>-

 

[jsomedaysoon]

thanks... one thing i noticed is that the antifreeze that spewed out was definatly not green it was an orangish brownish. that could be because i might have put some left over gm dexcool antifreeze in it or it might just be that rusted in there. either way i plan on a flush this weekend. i just hope i didnt blow a gasket or worse.