The Ford Barn

MickyD · 06-29-2021, 08:17 PM

Went on a 236 mile trip. Motometer did not register hot. Got home and checked water level in radiator and it has used 3/4 of a gallon. Is this unusual or not to use up this much water. It had a 50/50 mix in it. Prior to the trip I had a heat test done to my engine and radiator and it was between 160 and 180 depending what they were shooting it at. Car did not give any sign of overheating. It was a hot day in the 80's.

Gary WA · 06-29-2021, 08:20 PM

Looks Great for me!! Did it actually use 3/4 gl or did it just seeks its own level!?

MickyD · 06-29-2021, 08:26 PM

That's how much I had to add to bring up the level in the radiator.

Tacoma Bob · 06-29-2021, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickyD

That's how much I had to add to bring up the level in the radiator.

What do you consider "level"? if overfilled I believe you get a siphon effect and the water goes out the overflow tube. Level should just cover the tops of the tubes.

MickyD · 06-29-2021, 09:05 PM

I may have filled it an inch too high. I could see the water just below the overflow tube.

burner31 · 06-29-2021, 09:59 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

-236 mile Trip?
-Hot Day?
-Used 3/4's of a gallon of water?
-Ran great and did not overheat?

Sounds like motor did it's job and you enjoyed your trip to me
- (must be a good mechanic)
Normal maintenance (now you have to feed it)

Chuck Sea/Tac · 06-29-2021, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickyD

I may have filled it an inch too high. I could see the water just below the overflow tube.

That’s to full. It should be just below the baffle.

MickyD · 06-30-2021, 08:05 AM

Thanks all. I just am not sure how many miles I can put on it in one day without it overheating.

Big hammer · 06-30-2021, 08:39 AM

Now that you have overfilled the radiator ! leave the cap off, start the motor, look in the radiator for bubbles, if you have a thermostat watch for it to open, burp burp and then coolant flowing. Tiny bubbles = leaking head gasket, torque head nuts before replacing gasket.

226 mile drive sounds like your getting to know your A, take it out for a 326 mile drive enjoy !

1crosscut · 06-30-2021, 10:48 AM

You should be able to drive it for days, weeks or longer without having to add coolant.
Get a cheap dial meat thermometer, pull the cap off and test the actual coolant temperature by sticking the probe into it. Pull off the road once in a while, pop the cap and check your temperature. By taking the cap off you can also familiarize yourself with how your coolant level fluctuates with temperature changes. After a while you will either spot a problem with the temp or you will become comfortable with how your engine is performing.
A's do not have a pressurized system so you can remove the cap while hot.

1930artdeco · 06-30-2021, 03:03 PM

Mine did that, where the rad was stone cold. I added about the same amount or more so I think I have a crack or a leak. Have someone drive behind you and if they see a puff of smoke as you accelerate check for a leak somewhere.

Mike

1931 flamingo · 06-30-2021, 03:11 PM

If you shot it and got 180, you're NOT overheating. You may have just overfilled it.

JMO
Paul in CT

MickyD · 06-30-2021, 04:09 PM

I was with a group of 10 - 12 model a's and I was the 3rd one in line part of the day. I didn`t think to check it untill after I got home, the next morning. I do know I had overfilled it the day before because a friend of mine said I was throwing out some water when I went by his house. That could be where I lost a good portion of it due to over filling. My last trip was just over 100 miles and I used just a little watering that. A friend of mine says my roadster is jinxed because I don't have any leaks.

eagle · 06-30-2021, 11:59 PM

If you want to, you can push a rubber hose on the radiator overflow tube, then hang a jug of some kind in the engine compartment. Make sure the hose goes to the bottom of the jug. As the engine cools back down it'll suck the coolant back in. It'll help you diagnose the problem, if you have one. As others have said, you shouldn't need to add any coolant. I check mine every spring and every couple years add a cup or two. Make sure your radiator cap is sealed.

MickyD · 07-01-2021, 09:21 AM

Thanks eagle. I think I will try that. Since I am always tinkering with something in the garage daily I can check the coolant level also.

06-29-2021, 08:17 PM	#1
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Radiator hot or not Went on a 236 mile trip. Motometer did not register hot. Got home and checked water level in radiator and it has used 3/4 of a gallon. Is this unusual or not to use up this much water. It had a 50/50 mix in it. Prior to the trip I had a heat test done to my engine and radiator and it was between 160 and 180 depending what they were shooting it at. Car did not give any sign of overheating. It was a hot day in the 80's.

06-29-2021, 08:20 PM	#2
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,102	Re: Radiator hot or not Looks Great for me!! Did it actually use 3/4 gl or did it just seeks its own level!? __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

06-29-2021, 08:26 PM	#3
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Radiator hot or not That's how much I had to add to bring up the level in the radiator.

06-29-2021, 09:05 PM	#5
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Radiator hot or not I may have filled it an inch too high. I could see the water just below the overflow tube.

06-29-2021, 09:59 PM	#6
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: Radiator hot or not Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) -236 mile Trip? -Hot Day? -Used 3/4's of a gallon of water? -Ran great and did not overheat? Sounds like motor did it's job and you enjoyed your trip to me - (must be a good mechanic) Normal maintenance (now you have to feed it) __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

06-30-2021, 08:05 AM	#8
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Radiator hot or not Thanks all. I just am not sure how many miles I can put on it in one day without it overheating.

06-30-2021, 08:39 AM	#9
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,127	Re: Radiator hot or not Now that you have overfilled the radiator ! leave the cap off, start the motor, look in the radiator for bubbles, if you have a thermostat watch for it to open, burp burp and then coolant flowing. Tiny bubbles = leaking head gasket, torque head nuts before replacing gasket. 226 mile drive sounds like your getting to know your A, take it out for a 326 mile drive enjoy ! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done

06-30-2021, 10:48 AM	#10
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: Radiator hot or not You should be able to drive it for days, weeks or longer without having to add coolant. Get a cheap dial meat thermometer, pull the cap off and test the actual coolant temperature by sticking the probe into it. Pull off the road once in a while, pop the cap and check your temperature. By taking the cap off you can also familiarize yourself with how your coolant level fluctuates with temperature changes. After a while you will either spot a problem with the temp or you will become comfortable with how your engine is performing. A's do not have a pressurized system so you can remove the cap while hot. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

06-30-2021, 03:03 PM	#11
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,550	Re: Radiator hot or not Mine did that, where the rad was stone cold. I added about the same amount or more so I think I have a crack or a leak. Have someone drive behind you and if they see a puff of smoke as you accelerate check for a leak somewhere. Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

06-30-2021, 03:11 PM	#12
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Radiator hot or not If you shot it and got 180, you're NOT overheating. You may have just overfilled it. JMO Paul in CT

06-30-2021, 04:09 PM	#13
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Radiator hot or not I was with a group of 10 - 12 model a's and I was the 3rd one in line part of the day. I didn`t think to check it untill after I got home, the next morning. I do know I had overfilled it the day before because a friend of mine said I was throwing out some water when I went by his house. That could be where I lost a good portion of it due to over filling. My last trip was just over 100 miles and I used just a little watering that. A friend of mine says my roadster is jinxed because I don't have any leaks.

06-30-2021, 11:59 PM	#14
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Radiator hot or not If you want to, you can push a rubber hose on the radiator overflow tube, then hang a jug of some kind in the engine compartment. Make sure the hose goes to the bottom of the jug. As the engine cools back down it'll suck the coolant back in. It'll help you diagnose the problem, if you have one. As others have said, you shouldn't need to add any coolant. I check mine every spring and every couple years add a cup or two. Make sure your radiator cap is sealed. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

07-01-2021, 09:21 AM	#15
MickyD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Welcome NC Posts: 207	Re: Radiator hot or not Thanks eagle. I think I will try that. Since I am always tinkering with something in the garage daily I can check the coolant level also.