losing coolant

Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
Thanks

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I would start with a pressure test of the cooling system. Make sure the
pressure doesn't drop, but if it does, keep the pressure up and look for
leaks. If you can't find any external signs of a leak, let the engine sit
for a few hours, then drain a little oil from the engine and let that sit
for a few hours in a clear container (a used 2 liter soda bottle with the
top cut off to make it easier to pour the oil in works for me), then see if
there's any water at the bottom. I hope you don't find water, as that most
likely means a bad head gasket.


"ford78" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
> 1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
> pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
> any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
> smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
> off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
> in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
> Thanks
>
> --
> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/rec.autos.4x4/
> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html
>

I can't find my reply, so I'll try again.

I would start with a cooling system pressure test. First see if the
pressure drops, then if it does, keep the pressure up and look for external
leaks. If you don't find any external leaks, let the truck sit for a few
hours, then drain a little oil, and let that sit for a few hours in a clear
container (a 2 liter soda bottle with the top cut off to makes a good way to
both collect and observe the oil) then let that sit for a few hours, and
finally see if there is any water under the oil. I hope you don't find
water as that usually means there is a bad head gasket.


"ford78" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
> 1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
> pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
> any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
> smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
> off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
> in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
> Thanks
>
> --
> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/rec.autos.4x4/
> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html
>

Air hammer noise on hot shutdown of an old engine usually implies a bad
rad cap to me. The caps are supposed to allow coolant to go out and
into a coolant recovery container when the engine is hot, and be sucked
back when the engine is cold.

If the cap's seals are all dried out, they can make the hammering noise
as the fluid goes out, and maybe not seal good enough to suck it back in.

Caps are cheap to try anyway.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08

ford78 wrote:
> Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
> 1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
> pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
> any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
> smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
> off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
> in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
> Thanks
>
> --
> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/rec.autos.4x4/
> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html
>

Yea I have a 1967 mercedes 230 that the seal. On the cap the seal was
all dryed up. So it will not suck water from the water bottle. Ever
scents I replaced it all is well. Thanks Jamie

ford78 wrote:
> Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
> 1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
> pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
> any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
> smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
> off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
> in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
> Thanks
>
> --
> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/rec.autos.4x4/
> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html
>

Sounds like head gasket. Take a sample of the coolant
into a shop that can check for products of combustion.

--
..boB
2006 FXDI hot rod
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.

..boB wrote:
> ford78 wrote:
>> Hello I have a 78f250 that runs on propane. The engine was rebuilt about
>> 1000km ago.It sat parked for about 8 yrs.New water
>> pump,thermostat,radiator.There are bubbles in the coolant but can't find
>> any indication that it is the head gasket.No coolant in oil or white
>> smoke.Also as I said rebuilt. When engine comes up and you shut the truck
>> off it is like there is water hammer in the lines.So something is getting
>> in but What? Could it be something with the propane conversion?
>> Thanks
>>
>> --
>> Message posted using http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/rec.autos.4x4/
>> More information at http://www.talkaboutautos.com/faq.html
>>
>
> Sounds like head gasket. Take a sample of the coolant into a shop that
> can check for products of combustion.
>
One easy check for a head gasket loading up the cooling system is to
look for a clean sparkplug. If there is a coolant leak into the
cylinder, the plug will be steam cleaned and look new.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip Photos:
http://mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly.com