307 coolant problems

[tt442]

my 307 olds in my 87 442 has been boiling the coolant out of the over flow tank and I tried everything I can to make it stop and it keeps on. I replaced the thermostat and radiator cap. Flushed the radiator and engine. Engine runs fine then when I shut it off it boils out the tank!
im at a loss and never seen this. Could it be a head gasket or cracked head? ps no water in the oil and no oil in the coolant.

 

[Brandon]

my 307 olds in my 87 442 has been boiling the coolant out of the over flow tank and I tried everything I can to make it stop and it keeps on. I replaced the thermostat and radiator cap. Flushed the radiator and engine. Engine runs fine then when I shut it off it boils out the tank!
im at a loss and never seen this. Could it be a head gasket or cracked head? ps no water in the oil and no oil in the coolant.

my 350 does it sometimes (hot or not)... I was told (atleast for me) I could have air trapped in the hose since it does it quite often and my temperature gage doesn't show me running any hotter then usual.

 

[DeltaDevil88]

I had the same exact problem this summer in DFW area with my 307 the weather here has been 100+ for weeks now.

WHAT I DID:

Replaced radiator cap and coolant tank cap
Flushed radiator
Replaced my t-stat with a 180* instead of 195* Mr. Gasket
Replaced water pump (had a leak from weep hole, overheated real bad one day melted the seal)

So far so good for me on really hot days my temp will go over 220 sometimes but no bad overheating.

If all else fails check Radiator for calcium deposits and might be time to replace.

Reminds me I need to buy a Mr Gasket radiator cap with the temp gauge built in.

 

[85CutlassSalonRyder]

Glad to see another fellow Texan! Just a question, what type of coolant do you use? And, did you know there is an additive that you can buy for your cooling system to add to your 50/50 or predilluted mix that will drastically improve your operating temps (run cooler when hot/warmer when cold)? You might want to look into that. Lets see some pics of that Olds your driving!

 

[DeltaDevil88]

Glad to see another fellow Texan! Just a question, what type of coolant do you use? And, did you know there is an additive that you can buy for your cooling system to add to your 50/50 or predilluted mix that will drastically improve your operating temps (run cooler when hot/warmer when cold)? You might want to look into that. Lets see some pics of that Olds your driving!

I use prestone 50/50 Ive heard about the additive but kinda seems like a gimmick plus alot of people who have used that stuff says it turns into goop no thx!!! 😀

 

[dream on mcss]

my 307 olds in my 87 442 has been boiling the coolant out of the over flow tank and I tried everything I can to make it stop and it keeps on. I replaced the thermostat and radiator cap. Flushed the radiator and engine. Engine runs fine then when I shut it off it boils out the tank!
im at a loss and never seen this. Could it be a head gasket or cracked head? ps no water in the oil and no oil in the coolant.

my 350 does it sometimes (hot or not)... I was told (atleast for me) I could have air trapped in the hose since it does it quite often and my temperature gage doesn't show me running any hotter then usual.

X2. If you recently replaced a radiator or had to drain it for some reason, you could have air in the system and the "boiling" is just the air bubbles coming out through the tank. If you have air in the system then you need to burp it by running it with the radiator cap off while filling it with coolant.

EDIT: Yay 100th post! 8)

 

[88hurstolds]

Sounds like your radiator is building up calcium deposits and not effectively cooling.
You cannot just put regular water into a coolent system, the natural minerals in the water will deposit and corrode everything over time. You must use distilled water, buy a few gallons from the grocery store.

Here's what you do.

1. Buy an Fbody Aluminum radiator from www.rockauto.com for $90 (Aluminum transfers heat better than Brass)
2. Buy a bottle of Water Wetter from the autoparts store for $10 (stuff is worth it's weight in gold)
3. Buy 2 gallons of Distilled water and 2 gallons of coolent and mix NO MORE than a 50/50 blend otherwise the Water Wetter will not do it's job (follow the instructions on the back or Google to see what others are doing in your area), I run a 30/60 but I don't live in the desert...
4. 160* thermostat, not necessary but might help.
5. Aluminum High volume waterpump, again might help but it is not necessary.

You will never overheat again with this combo, I ran it with a 455 in a Gbody and could still put my hand on the valve covers after driving 50 miles... 307's on the other hand like to run hot, I think it's due to the smaller coolent passages.

 

[85CutlassSalonRyder]

Glad to see another fellow Texan! Just a question, what type of coolant do you use? And, did you know there is an additive that you can buy for your cooling system to add to your 50/50 or predilluted mix that will drastically improve your operating temps (run cooler when hot/warmer when cold)? You might want to look into that. Lets see some pics of that Olds your driving!

I use prestone 50/50 Ive heard about the additive but kinda seems like a gimmick plus alot of people who have used that stuff says it turns into goop no thx!!! 😀

Never turned into goop in my suburban. Most people have no idea of the proper way to use it and usally add it to their vehicle before reaching normal operating temps and allowing the thermostat to open fully resulting in the thermostat not opening up as it usally should at normal oper. temps.

 

[tt442]

must have bbeen air in the system it stopped doing it for now anyhow

 

[85CutlassSalonRyder]

Thats good to hear!