Radiator is Soapy

[SARGE]

Thought I knew all about this stuff. No one, even radiator shops can explain the problem (?). When I take the cap off the old '72 Cheyenne, with engine running it looks like thick soap suds sloshing through there. I drained and refilled and same thing. I know it's not oil for it wouldn't cause that. We're talking very thick soapy suds. Figgered since everyone around here knows so much I'd toss out the question. Never seen this in any car, nor have the shops I called. And, it is running a little hot.

[M. A. Dockter]

Only thing that would made suds like that would be washer fluid. I can't explain how it got in there if that is in fact the case.

[TwoRails]

Hi SARGE,

What does it smell like? What does it feel like? Why do you believe it's not oil?

Are you monitering your oil level? What does the bottom of the cap look like? Anything abnormal in the aire cleaner?

Do the bubbles go away? What does the inside of the radiator smell like if you stick you nose in it?

What does the oil dipstick look like? What does your Transmission dipstick look like? Are you monitering your trany fluid level?

Finally, did any member of the family, perhaps a younger one, help you with the car recently?

TwoRails

[juppy]

We've had the "bubbles" that you talk about on some of our cars before. I'm not sure but I think it happens when the antifreeze gets too hot. Maybe from being old too. I know we had the "suds" once when the thermostat was sticking on my mom's car. Didn't seem to hurt anything, as the car is still running several years later. BTW, I like your new avatar Sarge. :)

[Tiretool]

I've seen motor oil get "milky" looking after a blown head gasket allowed anti-freeze to mix with the oil, but never the coolant reservoir. Has anyone added a "stop leak" additive or anything similar?

[liegelord]

Possible blowbye from leaking headgasket allowing compression in not oil.

[Billnodeal]

sounds as if someone has added water pump lube to it, the kind that comes in a can by itself. it will get really bubbly & soapy if it is only water or added to some brands of coolant with lube already in from manufacturer.

[glc]

Take the truck in and get the cooling system chemically flushed and put fresh coolant in.

[Black Ice]

I would also have them do a presure test on it

[crjdriver]

I have seen this a few times in the past [worked in repair shops for 13 years] it is caused by some types of stop leak / water pump lube. There is probably nothing wrong. I would either take it to a shop and have a radiator flush and new anti-freeze put in; or purchase a flushing “T” at an auto parts store. These do a good job and it is very easy to do. The only drawback is that you make a mess flushing it yourself. Either way do not put in any additives other than good quality anti-freeze.

[Billnodeal]

Hey crjdriver, I agree with you about quality antifreeze, but did you know all antifreeze comes from just one plant? The only difference in the cheaper store brands is they do not add additional anti rust additives. That is why Prestone is more expensive & works much better. The add in lubes work great too, but you don't need to add a whole can to a coolant system.

[not important]

If it happens when the engine is running and it is overheating, you most likely have a bad cylinder head gasket. As the engine heats up the metal expands and lets compression from the cylinder into the cooling system. Any reputable radiator faclity or mechanic should be able to put a pressure gauge on the radiator and diagnose it pretty easily.
One other possibility is transmission fluid getting into the cooling system. But it will usually have a pinkish color to it.

[SARGE]

Flushed it myself using half water and half bleach. Drained and redid same thing. Took radiator out of truck, then cut a bicycle tube in half and put the ends of each radiator neck. Aired up the tube and found a few leaks. Guess it was sucking air as well, causing the bubbles and overheating. $60 for a radiator overhaul or $115 for a new one. So brought the new home and all seems well. Bicycle tube trick was neat.

[TwoRails]

That is a kewl trick, SARGE!! I'll have to remember that one :D

[homey]

Hi,

The bike tube was a neat trick for finding leaks, but radiators can't suck air because of internal pressure from the hot water.

You may have gotten rid of the problem from a foamy additive which may have been used to stop a leaking problem or you may have a gasket leak which causes the engine to pump air into the water system.

Just a thought. :)

[Tuf]

Cooling systems do suck air when they are cooling off and when the T-Stat is closed. You ought to see how hard an 8000 hp Gas Compressor Engine can suck.

[homer15]

i had something like that happen with my old camaro. the coolant in the radiator was really bubbly and foamy, but it was all radiator fluid. it had a few pinhole leaks and was pulling in air all over. a new radiator did the trick.

[HAL9000]

Ya.. that's an awesome trick... time to store that one in my brain somewhere... hope nothing leaks out.... hmmm... wonder if I put that inner tube to each ear to check.

[Billnodeal]

I tried the tube connected to both ears, but it wouldn't hold vacum! Maybe I need a bigger pump for such a large void?

[slingslingbinks]

hey sarge, sorry for the late response, i just saw the post and your right on the radiator having a leak and sucking air, causing the coolant to foam up, espically if the leak is high enough and on the same side as the radiator cap is, for that is the low presure side of the radiator. that side of the radiator also has the lower radiator hose that goes to the inlet of the water pump. this is espically true if the radiator core is realy pluged and and the water pump is realy sucking hard to pump the coolant through the engine. you could tell real easy by pulling of the radiator cap and with the engine at a fast idle and watch the coolant get sucked down the tank, instead of being pulled through the cores of the radiator and also a bad rad cap and a part. pluged core will do the same, and make the coolant faom up and be sure to have a lower radiator hose on it that has a spring in the hose so it doesn't get sucked shut. after 30 year's of being a car-heavy duty truck mechanic you figure out why it's broke and how to repair it. if i only had that much computer experence, i wouln't be asking all of my laime question's. good luck sarge. i hope that you see this reply from me c-ya slingslingbinks

[SARGE]

Originally posted by slingslingbinks
... and be sure to have a lower radiator hose on it that has a spring in the hose so it doesn't get sucked shut.

Yes, I learned my lesson on lower hose without a spring inside. Hose had to bend up at an angle (not prefabbed) and was sucking shut.

[azscary]

This post was edited due to adult oriented language. Please refrain from posting anything that a child shouldn't be able to see. Thank you for your support.

[TwoRails]

When I attempt to view this thread by clicking on the link in the email notification, I get the following:

You do not have permission to access this page.

I'm not having any problems accessing other thread thru email notification.

Is this a problem on my end or this end?

Thanks

TwoRails

[M. A. Dockter]

This should be corrected shortly TwoRails.

[TwoRails]

It's working now !! :D

Thanks,

TwoRails

Oh... I think I got it ...