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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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As long as your temp guage stays approx mid up and down a little you are PROBABLY good to go.. check your fluids daily and keep close eye on things.
My guess still is a slow leak somewhere. Hopefully you find it and it's something simple. Unfortunately slow leaks sometimes become blown hoses or worse at an inconvenient time.
Good luck.
Oh and check to see your fan is working. It should cut on occasionally.. double check that k.
If by any chance you get within a couple hundred miles of Reno pm me through this forum ahead of time.. be glad to take a look at things for ya and replace your thermostat just to be safe.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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You can even just temporarily remove the thermostat and run without it for a while.
If you can get to the Thermostat to remove it, you might as well replace it. It's not so easy in a van. I have a Ford Econoline E250 and the book says it takes over an hour for a qualified mechanic to replace the thermostat. I'm kinda screwed in my van suddenly because after an overheating problem they couldn't get the thermostat out due to severely corroded bolts so they just disabled it so my flow is open all the time now.
Also good to replace the cap. It's cheap and sometimes that's it, but the thermostat is the kingpin of tons of stupid car problems that can lead to disaster
If it's the head gasket (and it could be) that sucks because it's very expensive to repair. If you, like me, have a vehicle that's not worth a thousand or two or more to fix, you can try what's worked for me in two cars so far, an acura legend and a subaru legacy wagon, Steel seal
It's $100 of magic sauce that mechanic distain but totally fixed the two head gasket issues and they ran for years afterwards, before they overheated in 15 minutes. It's a no brainer for any non-mechanic to use
https://secure.steelseal.com/index.php/t14
a non-mechanic dirtbag's friend
peace
karl
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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HG
A lots of times when you're losing water is because it's steaming out..
Those old systems need to be "burped". When the engine and radiator are not COMPLETELY
full. The engine will have trapped air. Which gets hotter then the engine actually is.
Corresponding with the tempature gauge to rise rapidly. Once uv driven enough to warm the engine, turn the heater ON. The water in the heater core circulates with the engine water. A lot of times this wil cause ur radiator level to go down. Top it off. Problem solved!
Everytime your car heats up U should IMEDIATLY turn the heater on. FWIW
GOOD LUCK!
Sorry to hear about Teddy...
You know I lost Jake a few months ago.
BB
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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There are cheaper leak fixers than Karl's. But if it is the head gasket
then $100 is cheap. Hard to believe it only leaked 2/3 gal from NY to whereever
you are now. You need to get that thermostat out now and get a new one in.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2012 - 05:19pm PT
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Well, it was running good but just started to get hot again.
After the last post I made, I drove a 55-60mph for about 20 miles and it stayed at the middle. Then continued on another 40 miles, at 55-60. Had been watching it and it was staying in middle, but then began to rise.
The manual says that the level CAN get up into the higher range of the section marked "normal," but if it passes that line and goes by the H, trouble. As it was staying at just about above the the "a" in normal, or at about 70% towards the top of the normal section, I kept going to the town, about 2 miles. Sitting in the shade now.
I am thinking I will fill up the fluid if low, and try to get to Amarillo, which is about 60 miles away, with two towns and a rest area spaced in between. I would think that a leak has developed. Will replace the cap, but if looks are any clue, this one seems in very good condition.
The tire - it was a good thing I did go to have the tire guys change it, because the lugnuts for the regular rims didn't fit when he put the spare tire on. Interesting, because when I looked at the van, the spare was not inside. The lady said it was in the garage, and when I picked the van up, they had put it in the van. But my friend noticed that the spare tire was a 225/15 when the ones on van are 275.
One of the van's 275/15's became damaged and so I bought a set of used tires and put the still good 275 on the spare tire rim and through out the 225 tire. At any rate - the place in Shamrock had no new or used tires in the size, and so I am without a spare until I get to Amarillo and find a used one, hopefully. Plus I guess I need the lug nuts that will work. I had no idea this could even be an issue. FYI - the guy at the shop had to use all his might to get that wheel lock to loosen. So, I don't feel too bad I couldn't do it. At the time I was mad at myself for giving up so easily.
I am exhausted emotionally. Teddy went to the vet and he got some medicines for stomach and antibiotics under the assumption that he ate something gross which is causing the distress. The vet felt it was not an obstruction in his bowel, which was one possibility.
Now to see if he perks up and wants food. If he isn't improved by Wednesday, then they need to do tests to see what is wrong.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2012 - 05:55pm PT
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Okay - cooled and checked. It was not really low by much. Maybe a little less than when I added to it, but covering the cores.
I filled to about 1/8 inch from where the neck comes out of radiator, so should be able to easily tell if some is used, but wouldn't know if it is leaking or going out that 0overflow hose.
The sun is down and it is much cooler if that wil make a differnece. I am so tired. Not going to try for Amarillo until tomorrow morning, but will look for fiusr suitable stop for night place along the way.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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If the van overheated, your thermostat was damaged. Get it replaced, or destroy your engine. Simple as that.
No idea what other cooling system related problems you have or what the root cause of the overheating is, though suggest you get that fixed as well.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2012 - 08:56pm PT
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That seems like good advice. I did get to Amarillo and was surprised at how quick moving and non-congested the HWY 60/40 corridor was. It would be very easy to think "I'll stop soon" and then be out of town. I ended up on the west side myself, coming from northeast, and will have to backtrack to do what I need to do tomorrow.
I did see a tire guy back up the road, quite a bit but still in the city, and hopefully I can get that taken care of early and ask them about people to check the van issue out.
The temp stayed at middle way the entire portion of this, but yeah - the next section until Albequerque is pretty bleak. Last year I left Oklahoma through Hollis(if ever I have seen a god-forsaken town, that was one). And there was no thing, not even a sign that anyone lived up a gravel road over the horizon - for a long, long, way.
I screwed up that one bad by deciding not to stop in what turned out to be THE one town along the way. At dusk, no less. Because I had gotten an uncomfortable feeling and thought "well, maybe the other side of town." Which, there really wasn't one of. I don't know how many miles I went down that road with seeing maybe three or four semis and that was it, but I was up way past my bedtime that night, and ended up at this tourist trap restaurant/gift shop in the middle of nowhere, like 30 or 60 miles south of Albequerque.
edit: And as for hard core adventurer, I don't know if a person who can't even change their tire can qualify there... But, I was very nice to the tire guys, and even gave him a little jolly. He told me the lug nits didn't fit, and he'd see if they had some to use for the spare rim. He pulled out a box of add and end ones and found one or two, but gave up. They also got some other customers, so had to do that.
So, I say as he is finishing putting the tire in and puts the empty rim in the van, "So you didn't find enough lugnuts, then?" He goes, "No, I got no nuts."
I don't think he realized the double entendre, but I thought Oh, what the hell, these guys have been very nice" and said "Well, you got nits, but not the kind I need right now." He smiled and said in a sorta Texan voice, "Yeah, those ones won't work for this job."
And then he charged me, for switching out the spare to the regular rim and putting it on the van, $15. Maybe that's what things cost in Texas small towns, but it seemed a pretty good deal to me. So I gave him a twenty and then said "Keep the rest as a tip. I really appreciate you;re helping me so quickly and being so nice." And he was genuinely appreciative of that unexpected tip. I think that was the first time I ever saw someone have that look. I t was pretty clear that a $5 cash extra for him that day made a difference in SOME way.
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T R
climber
Ca.
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What year is the van? Where is the coolant leak; you keep adding coolant. Maybe the head gasket is a little blown and coolant is going into the crankcase. Pull the oil dipstick and look/smell for coolant. Is the oil dipstick higher than normal? Does the van have any loss of power.
Kinda sounds like a radiator; BUT that doesn't explain the loss of coolant.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 3, 2012 - 09:56pm PT
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It is a 1990 Ford Econoline, E250 van.
I do not know where the leak is, or if there IS a leak. It may be that when I filled it this morning, I could have put in a bit more than I did. It didn't really seem lower than the recommended level when it ran hot this afternoon.
The oil is normal. Same amount as was in before the overheat(I had checked it that morning). It doesn't smell like coolant. The power seems fine. I haven't pushed it, like to kick down a gear for a hill, or to pass anyone, but the regular driving is normal as usual.
Thanks to everyone for the help and suggestions. I guess I do need to have someone take a look at it, and will do so tomorrow.
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Juan Maderita
Trad climber
"OBcean" San Diego, CA
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I filled to about 1/8 inch from where the neck comes out of radiator, so should be able to easily tell if some is used, but wouldn't know if it is leaking or going out that overflow hose.
You are overfilling the radiator. As the engine warms up, coolant will start spitting out from the overflow tube. After the engine cools and you pull the radiator cap, the coolant level should be about 3/4" to 1" (guessing) below the bottom of the neck. That is normal. If you expect it to be full, then you will believe your system has a leak and keep adding fluid. Guaranteed, it will "use" a quart of coolant every time you drive it!
If you add an aftermarket overflow tank, then the radiator will be completely full when cold. Repeating myself here: get one, even if you have to use a Gatorade bottle and zip ties.
BLUEBLOCR wrote about trapped air in the block. That's why you want a small hole(s) in your new thermostat. And, as he recommends, run the heater for a couple minutes to get the trapped air out of the heater core and hoses.
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Juan Maderita
Trad climber
"OBcean" San Diego, CA
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And I got the key to unlock the tire cap and I cannot budge it. WD40 did not make it any more possible for me. I worry there is some trick I don't get, because it doesn't feel like it is seating as evenly and solidly as I would expect. What's a "tire cap"?
FYI - the guy at the shop had to use all his might to get that wheel lock to loosen. What's a "wheel lock"? Do you mean a "locking lug nut"?
If having difficulty removing locking lug nuts, try over-torqueing the adjacent lug nuts; the nuts on either side of the locking lug nut. It's a little trick I learned working on repos, when we never had the key. Then I'd beat an impact socket over the top of it with a hammer. The locking nut will spin off with less resistance. Buy regular lug nuts and throw the PITA locking lug nuts away. More people get stranded by not having the key when it is needed or from the key having insufficient grip strength to handle the torque needed for removal.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, happigrrl, oh no... i been so worried about teddy since i been reading your story here...
finally got to just sit down and go through it...
:O
man oh man, you sure have had a mess, :O and man oh man,
these taco guys sure know a lot!
they are wonderful!
am still praying for you to be safe... and get there in good time...
thankful that you have had safe spots to be stuck at... whewww...
you are sure able to hang in there, that's for sure, without
getting so ovewhelmed that YOU have your flat: as to spirit getting down...
god bless... keep on getting taco help...
prayers for teddy...
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 4, 2012 - 10:38am PT
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You are overfilling the radiator...level should be about 3/4" to 1" (guessing) below the bottom of the neck...you will believe your system has a leak and keep adding fluid. Guaranteed, it will "use" a quart of coolant every time you drive it!
I only filled it like that this last time because I wanted to have a good gauge as to where the level was at next time I looked. Otherwise I put it to the 3/4 from neck(my van had the owner's manual, which was very helpful and I did read cover to cover right away. I learned some things for this van that went different to ideas I have had about cars from over the years).
A quart of coolant each time? REALLY?
What's a "tire cap"? Probably the wrong term. The wheels have a lock on a metal plate about 6 inches diameter in the center of the rim, and you insert a tool that looks like a socket wrench end and has a T-like end to help turn it. Same concept as a locking lug nut but not on a plate instead of nut.
I agree that Juan Madiera's Repo Man tip is a classic example of what makes Supertopo the best damned niche topic(Climbing, in case anyone wonders) discussion board in the world. But that tip would be a good one to know if you came across a person with a flat who didn't have the key.
Consider the Firestone lifetime alignment.
I know I do need to get the alignment or I will just eat tires. This one showed me the error of my ways. Will look into the Firestone thing.
Regarding the spare tire: Sounds like you need a rim that fits your lug pattern.
I will ask the tire guys what the deal is. The rim fit onto the lug nuts when the guy put it on yesterday. When he went to put on the nuts, he said "These nuts won't work on this rime." I was surprised about that, but thought it must be that the regular rims are fancy and have fancy long nuts with a covered end, and the spare in a very basic rim, that there might be some issue with the length of the post exposed. That the spare might have a longer length exposed and the nut unable to turn down tight to the rim.
So, back to the coolant issue. After the last post from JLP, I fear I would be taking an unnecessary risk to continue on without having that looked at. The next big town is Albequerque, 300 miles west. In between, very small to towns by name only.
I know that I cannot change the thermostat by myself. Like I said - with a person with a clue watching, yeah I could. But I don't have that. So I am going to ask the tire guys for recommendations and see if I can get the van looked at today.
Teddy is touch and go. I hope he will eat later today because I wonder if some of his weakness isn't due to not eating since Friday night. That is probably wishful thinking, unfortunately.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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I'm really sorry to hear Teddy is ailing. I hope he feels better very soon. Do you think it's the plastic bag eating thing? Did that clear up? Thinking of you two.
And I'm glad to hear you'll get the thermostat thing taken care of there. Delaying action will only create more mechanical (and other) problems and be FAR more costly in the long (and in this case, short) run.
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Russ Walling
Social climber
from Poofters Froth, Wyoming
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If you are going to Albq, you could have Jeremys Mom look at it for you.
(completely unhelpful post, but it does bump this and anytime you can fit Jeremys Mom into a post, well it should be done.)
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Ha! Locker - I saw it earlier and thought all sorts of very immature and pesky posts (a specialty of mine). Alas, I was working and too tired to be a pest. :) Still, I got a chuckle out of it too.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 4, 2012 - 12:58pm PT
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That was meant to get a few laughs out of people (unless "a jolly" means a LOT more than just giving some guy, who you both know it ain't going there, a feeling of at least being recognized as a man.
Teddy saw the vet yesterday and she did not feel there was an obstruction in his abdomen from the symptoms (not tense in the abdomen, able to keep down water, and also a rectal exam). She said he is passing whatever is in him through, though there was a bit of duty which was hard...within reach. But to know for sure would be x-rays or a Laparoscopy, which would be the next step if that avenue would be pursued. I know it is a multi-thousand dollar operation if there were an obstruction and I hope people will not say cruel things at this time when I say I would not go that route. I love Teddy beyond anything and he has been as much a therapy dog for me as a regular dog.
She gave him injections which reduce vomit potential, and he hasn't vomited since. I gave him the first pill version this morning. He also got antibiotic injection yesterday, and his first pill this morning. He got most of those pills in him. I covered them with salmon oil to make the spit out more difficult and he luckily started chewing them as he attempted to get rid of them.
I put out food for him a while ago and he did come look at it twice, so that is a good sign. But he hasn't eaten any. Maybe he will later today, or after the next set of pills.
If I had to say what is going on, I would guess that Teddy is having Kidney failure, or a better situation would be that he has Diabetes. He was not drinking massive amounts of water though in the recent past though, which is a symptom in both those. Another for Diabetes is big appetite, while still losing weight. The vet said another possibility is Pancreatitis, which can happen when dogs eat strange things. Teddy would eat anything and though I tried to limit his ability to do so, he was always tricky about getting at the things to late for me to do anything.
So, yeah. I am having a tough time right now.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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hey there say, happigrrl...
i was wondering too, if there is some kind of fumes that may be bothering teddy... dogs etc, are suseptable to that...
but after reading that the vet took care of him already, they
got the situation handled, i see..
will still be praying for teddy...
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