AboutSkip Bollinger Expertise Heretofore, I will NOT answer any mechanical question. I am not qualified and can only offer speculations. You are better served by others that are true Techs. With that being said, please only ask about parts and locating obsolete Auto Parts. Thank you.
I have the ability to locate quite a few mechanical parts for American made vehicles fron the 1900`s to present. Some are OEM and some are aftermarket. This would include engine, brake and chassis parts. Body parts and trim are VERY difficult to find but you may inquire.
If you need assistance in repair, I have illustrated books for major American manufacturers that show some illustrations BEFORE 1974. If needed, I can supply repair manuals for your specific vehicle.
PLEASE REMEBER I'M A PARTS SPECIALIST, NOT A TECH!! Thank you..
Skip
Experience
Past/Present clients Too many to list but they run from Europe through America and to Australia.
Question 1990 dodge pick-up v8, why am i getting back pressure and making it over heat
Answer To all who read this. I have updated my Profile and will NOT attempt to answer any more Technical Questions. I'm a Parts Professional, NOT a Tech! Okay?? I'm not trying to be rude but these questions are out of my realm of expertise. You have NO idea how much time it takes me to research Tech questions and how many of my customers I have to bother to help with Tech questions. I'm becoming a nuisance to them and I can't afford that.
Brad,
I am going to guess you are talking about your engine's cooling system on your truck?? You don't say except that something is making it over heat. I'm guessing the cooling system and will go from there. I don't understand what you mean by "back pressure". That term us usually reserved for exhaust systems but I'm going to run with the cooling system.
Water boils, at sea level, at 212 degrees F. Since engines operate at a temperature higher than that, they have to be "pressure sealed" which raises the boiling point. A cooling system is like a pressure cooker. Water won't boil because it is under pressure. The minute you open the cooling system (release the pressure) water will boil in a heartbeat. That is why you will see, on radiator caps, "Do Not Open When Hot". With that being said, pressure is normal. Now to possible overheating problems. You have given me NO information on any repairs done on the system or how many miles are on the engine or the type of usage the truck has had in it's lifetime.
I'm beginning with the least probable cause for overheating and working my way up to the most possible cause. I'm doing this so anyone who reads this will not just read the first paragraph and quit. So this first paragraph is the LEAST likely to be your problem.
Let's begin with truck usage. If it has lead a pristine life and never been off road, this is a mute point but still may be looked at. IF it has been used as a farm truck or a hunting truck, there could be debris in the radiator cooling fins preventing air from passing through them to cool the water sufficiently. Take a flashlight and look through the grill and see if you see the radiator caked with bugs, straw or even mud. If you do, go to a car wash and wash out the radiator from the engine side toward the grill side. You don't want to try to push the debris through the fins, they are too close together, you want to push it out of the fins via the direction it entered. Make sense?
Now to mileage. For some reason, unknown to me, Chryslers have always had a rust problem with the cooling system. Have you removed the radiator cap WHEN COOL and just looked into the radiator to see the condition of the system? The anti-freeze should be a nice translucent green color. If it is, start the truck and let it warm up with the radiator cap removed. IF you are in a garage, make sure it is well ventilated so the exhaust doesn't gather and kill you and all involved in looking at this truck. Once it warms up and the thermostat is open, gently rev up the engine and see if the coolant moves. The water pump should pump the coolant and you should see it flow like a country stream. IF it doesn't flow, that is a problem. If it just raises up in the filler neck, there could be a water pump problem.
Now to repairs or lack thereof. There IS coolant in the radiator, isn't there?? Okay, good. Have you had the system "back flushed", replaced the thermostat, water pump, heater core or heater valve? I have already explained how to check water movement to check out the water pump. Once the engine is warmed up, the upper radiator hose should be hot. Just be careful because IF things are working correctly, the hoses will be hot enough to burn you so just tap the hose with a finger. So should all the heater hoses. Just make sure the heater controls inside the truck are set to "HEAT". Check the hoses going to the heater core and heater valve. ALL should be hot. IF you find one that is cooler than the rest, replace the part that it goes to. By that, I mean, if one hose going to the heater valve is hot and the one coming out is not as hot, the heater valve may be clogged preventing coolant flow and an over heating problem. The same thoughts go to the heater core.
You never did say if the truck was putting out heat. If it isn't, that is a plugged heater core.
Anyway, I've caused enough trouble here. I hope this gives you a bit of direction and you solve your problem. Have a safe and happy New Year and good luck..
Skip
