DiamondTruck
07-29-2009, 09:35 AM
While changing my oil today I noticed my top radiator hose flat as a pancake. Does anyone know what this means?
|
Rader2146 07-29-2009, 10:12 AM Could have bad radiator/surge tank cap. When the air cools after the truck has been shut off for a while it will create a vaccum that will pull the hose flat. Loosen the cap and see if it goes back round. Coolbreeze 07-29-2009, 10:39 AM Yes radiator cap and supposedly once you have a bad cap then Dexcool has been compromised a bit. My Dexcool is getting drained first chance I get! mattmanstroked 07-29-2009, 02:46 PM I would replace the rad cap and flush the cooling system and refill with coolant. I am not a fan of the dex cool at all. At 50,000 I say to drain flush and refill when using dex cool. I know they say like 5 years 150,000 miles, but I am not going to let mine go that long. 1953drtelco 07-29-2009, 02:55 PM Thanks for the advice. I've seen the flat hose a few times myself...The release of the radiator cap does release the hose. Not sure how the DexCool is compromised since the radiator cap is not allowing any air in....If it did the hose would not collaspe??? RedG 07-29-2009, 04:17 PM You can just clean the cap and not have to replace it. Just wash it good, suck on it to free up the pressure diaphram and spray a little silicone on it. Usually no need to buy another one. dirtavg 07-29-2009, 04:49 PM You can just clean the cap and not have to replace it. Just wash it good, suck on it to free up the pressure diaphram and spray a little silicone on it. Usually no need to buy another one. X2 Just wash the cap out with a little soap and water and it should be as good as new. jbcox43 07-29-2009, 05:56 PM X3 ... Worked for me. Just cleaned...was good to go. mattmanstroked 07-29-2009, 07:50 PM Thanks for the tip on washing the cap. Thats good to know. I like the old green antifreeze better than dex cool. I wish they had not changed over. The dex cool seems to breakdown and form a brown looking paste. Look at some of the vehicles with the rad cap on the radiator, remove the cap and look at the sludge. CATdiesel0631 07-29-2009, 08:34 PM That radiator cap is $7 why bother with a wash...... 13Fox 07-29-2009, 08:49 PM That radiator cap is $7 why bother with a wash...... Because a wash is free! :D Rader2146 07-29-2009, 08:53 PM That radiator cap is $7 why bother with a wash...... I had a feeling that was going to come up. To each his own. ;) CATdiesel0631 07-29-2009, 10:54 PM Ya I understand a wash is free, a fella will buy 3 mountain dew drinks that add up to $7 dollars but when it come to a $15,000 engine and protecting the cooling system, washing the radiator cap HOPING that it cleaned the gunk out of the spring return in the cap is the fix. (what a run-on lol) To each his own. :) Ill replace mine once a year there so cheap just because. Dont be afraid to go to a O'Riellys Auto parts and get one.....a radiator cap is a radiator cap. Its probably better than what GM provided in the first place. 1953drtelco 07-29-2009, 11:17 PM The wash will save more money for BEER! jbcox43 07-30-2009, 08:00 AM There is also that good feeling you get when you "fix it" yourself..vs writing a check. dwrat 07-30-2009, 01:07 PM That radiator cap is $7 why bother with a wash...... This guy must own a parts store. I alway try to service items instead of replacing with some China knock off part. willis_bud2 07-30-2009, 11:18 PM :exactly: The wash will save more money for BEER! FINALLY!!! SOMEONE WHO MAKES SENSE!:beerchug: kwhizz 07-31-2009, 09:08 AM Ya I understand a wash is free, a fella will buy 3 mountain dew drinks that add up to $7 dollars but when it come to a $15,000 engine and protecting the cooling system, washing the radiator cap HOPING that it cleaned the gunk out of the spring return in the cap is the fix. (what a run-on lol) To each his own. :) Ill replace mine once a year there so cheap just because. Dont be afraid to go to a O'Riellys Auto parts and get one.....a radiator cap is a radiator cap. Its probably better than what GM provided in the first place. Not!!!.........................The ChinaJunk has a tendency for the rubber seal to that contacts the sealing surface of the Radiator to come loose after tightening and the Cap is Junk......If you replace it use OEM only!! Just my $.02.......Been There.......... Ken Montana Mike 07-31-2009, 01:59 PM :funnypost :D Mike CATdiesel0631 07-31-2009, 11:01 PM lol, what difference does it make....the OEM one wont last longer than a year in the first place. And its Taiwan, they dont CLAIM china!! lol CATdiesel0631 07-31-2009, 11:07 PM This guy must own a parts store. I alway try to service items instead of replacing with some China knock off part. Rough crowd....no parts store here, you guys that nickle and dime everything crack me up. everything else you buy is a China knock off.....and anymore the Chinease stuff is assembled better than UAW junk from the US. The sweatshop people are held to more strick work requirments than a man in the US that can build only 2 radiator caps a day with 45 smoke breaks inbetween. My last two Duramax's both had a canadian radiator cap on it........after the first 50k miles(one years time) the OEM's failed and the rest of there short life with me it was a "china" one......they held together fine. $7 later I was happy for another 100K miles.......... LOL You guys make this stuff way to complicated..... Wash the M-fer :p: CATdiesel0631 07-31-2009, 11:10 PM Not!!!.........................The ChinaJunk has a tendency for the rubber seal to that contacts the sealing surface of the Radiator to come loose after tightening and the Cap is Junk......If you replace it use OEM only!! Just my $.02.......Been There.......... Ken The CAP does not require 40ft/lbs of torque. HawkChevy 08-01-2009, 12:53 PM Rough crowd....no parts store here, you guys that nickle and dime everything crack me up. everything else you buy is a China knock off.....and anymore the Chinease stuff is assembled better than UAW junk from the US. The sweatshop people are held to more strick work requirments than a man in the US that can build only 2 radiator caps a day with 45 smoke breaks inbetween. My last two Duramax's both had a canadian radiator cap on it........after the first 50k miles(one years time) the OEM's failed and the rest of there short life with me it was a "china" one......they held together fine. $7 later I was happy for another 100K miles.......... LOL You guys make this stuff way to complicated..... Wash the M-fer :p: That smoke break comment is hilarious :) If I have a problem with a flat upper hose or radiator cap, i'm gonna be a little hesitant to post the problem on here, don't wanna start an argument over a $7 part :) RedG 08-01-2009, 02:27 PM Rough crowd....no parts store here, you guys that nickle and dime everything crack me up. everything else you buy is a China knock off.....and anymore the Chinease stuff is assembled better than UAW junk from the US. The sweatshop people are held to more strick work requirments than a man in the US that can build only 2 radiator caps a day with 45 smoke breaks inbetween. My last two Duramax's both had a canadian radiator cap on it........after the first 50k miles(one years time) the OEM's failed and the rest of there short life with me it was a "china" one......they held together fine. $7 later I was happy for another 100K miles.......... LOL You guys make this stuff way to complicated..... Wash the M-fer :p: All this wisdom from a guy that can't spell CHINESE CATdiesel0631 08-02-2009, 01:38 AM Is that all you have for a $7 discussion? Chinease!! This coming from Mr. Spellcheck with the hyperpack programmer. Next time you buy a bottle of dawn.....think about your radiator cap. Course im sure you guys use the "always-save" brand of soap....LOL kwhizz 08-02-2009, 10:16 AM The CAP does not require 40ft/lbs of torque. No Further Comments to Mr Cat Diesel......... Ken dwrat 08-02-2009, 10:36 AM All this wisdom from a guy that can't spell CHINESE LMAO, Maybe if he saved a few bucks here and there he could get / afford spell check. paul_arc 08-02-2009, 11:57 AM Well I had the flat hose problem a few months ago then left the cap in a bowl of soap and water for a day then put it back on and never looked at it again. well I was just under the hood yesterday and the hose was flat again... went to the dealer and they were out of stock but wanted $13 and some change...:rolleyes: it doesnt hurt anything to let the problem persist does it? CATdiesel0631 08-02-2009, 12:34 PM LMAO, Maybe if he saved a few bucks here and there he could get afford spell check. dwrat, Have someone with a higher IQ than yours read that and see what they think. LOL, I dont need to save a few bucks here and there. If It needs replaced it just gets replaced. My whole point to this whole thread was a radiator cap is cheap. Whether you go to O'Riellys Auto Parts or the dealership. Why worry about a wash job. FWIW I washed mine several times but you DO NOT get all the trash and build-up outta the valve and sealing seat. A new one is NEW. You guys are making this whole radiator cap thing way too complicated. Im also assuming at this point you guys are searching for/and or looking for a way to install a smoke switch too......;) CATdiesel0631 08-02-2009, 12:38 PM Well I had the flat hose problem a few months ago then left the cap in a bowl of soap and water for a day then put it back on and never looked at it again. well I was just under the hood yesterday and the hose was flat again... went to the dealer and they were out of stock but wanted $13 and some change...:rolleyes: it doesnt hurt anything to let the problem persist does it? It will more so in the winter, and the fact that your cooling system cannot effectively remove air bubbles from the coolant system creates cavitaion. When the air gets intrapped in certain areas in the coolant passages it will form a slight vacuum. (keep in mind the wash boys know this because there so brilliant) In turn that will eventually start eroding the wall in which the air is intrapped against especially with a heat and cooling cycle. What do I know, im just a low ballin' highly overpaid nobody in the petro-industry...... But the wash boys here already knew that. There IQ is right between a radiator cap and a bottle of soap. So you get washed radiator caps. LOL stratman 08-02-2009, 01:08 PM Hey! IMO I would wash the cap if getting to a parts store was difficult or a long ways away. Get a new cap the next time you can afford it or are near the parts store. Keep the old cap and switch off once a month. Change fluid if this is a big concern. Now what fluid would be appropriate is an whole other argument about which is best. Do what you feel is needed and can afford. Overheating and cooling is a big deal with the diesels so I would watch it closley. But that is just my opinion:cool: | ||