• Welcome to The Truck Stop! We see you haven't REGISTERED yet.

    Your truck knowledge is missing!
    • Registration is FREE , all we need is your birthday and email. (We don't share ANY data with ANYONE)
    • We have tons of knowledge here for your diesel truck!
    • Post your own topics and reply to existing threads to help others out!
    • NO ADS! The site is fully functional and ad free!
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

    Problems registering? Click here to contact us!

    Already registered, but need a PASSWORD RESET? CLICK HERE TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD!

Gremlin Stumper

Hink

Hink

Overkill Is Underrated
Messages
398
Reaction score
493
Location
Stevenson, Wa.
Ok, I've had this kind of week so I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of this...

With my recent little glow plug issue, http://www.thetruckstop.us/forum/threads/hard-start-all-of-a-sudden.45834/
I was just plugging the block heater in to get it started in the morning until I could get the glows changed out.

The other day, the hood was open as I plugged the block heater in like I had the previous 2-3 days and BAM! the radiator cap immediately blew off and coolant went everywhere. WTF?!

Totally cold motor.
I stood there staring at a tree for a full 5 minutes as I tried to absorb and make any sense out of what just happened.

Turns out, I think I figured out what happened but I'd like to hear what you guys come up with? Have you ever heard of this crazy crap?
 
  • Like
Reactions: NVW
Have you pulled the block heater out and inspected it yet? I'd be willing to bet it has a cracked/exposed element in it. Saw that happen years ago in a Detroit Diesel engine in an OTR truck. BTW, check your bottle of water wetter for warnings, I want to say its actually flammable, but I could be wrong. I suffer a lot from brain out gassing lately. (Brain Farts)
 
Boat, you got it quick.

That's pretty much what I figured...
I didn't get a pic of the element yet, but yup, it had a hole in it. Don't know how, it's only a year and a half old and has only been plugged in 5-6 times. Likely caused a shock that went through the coolant system and blew the cap and that heater out. Lost all my coolant, over heated a bit and I had to crawl under the truck and roll around in the mud for about 4 friggen hours to replace it. Not fun at all, but turns out that it can be done.
 
ak diesel driver said:
What brand heater? You ought to try and put one on the passenger side
Click to expand...
I'll check the brand, just one from NAPA.
I did put one on the passenger side when I put the motor together : )>
But I don't think it's working, which sucks.
One day I'll pull the motor again and do all the little things that I want to get done. (block heater, temp probe in passenger head, etc.)
 
You can always abandon the freeze-plug block heater and go with a 1000W tank-style heater.
 
Hink said:
Damn straight there. But do yourself a favor and plug it in BEFORE you install the motor to make sure it's heating. : (>
Click to expand...
make sure there's water around it before you plug it in or it will burn out quickly. Maybe that's where your issue stems from?
 
Husker6.5 said:
You can always abandon the freeze-plug block heater and go with a 1000W tank-style heater.
Click to expand...
You got a link for one of those?

ak diesel driver said:
make sure there's water around it before you plug it in or it will burn out quickly. Maybe that's where your issue stems from?
Click to expand...

Nope, Truck was fully functioning when she blew. I'll try to get a pic of the element with the hole in it this weekend.
And it didn't just burn up, it blew up. Shit flying, noise, drama. The works.
 
Man that is crazy! I had to change mine in the truck and it was pretty hateful, though I was able to change mine on the concrete floor of my barn. Maybe if you ever have to do it again you should try doing it in jello insteas of the mud and see if that makes it more fun? :p

You are just not having any luck lately!
 
n8in8or said:
You are just not having any luck lately!
Click to expand...

Amen to that, brother. But it's so awesome to actually be able to get everything fixed fairly easily. In the past when things went south, they stayed down there for a long time.

BTW,

2016-11-05 21.45.19.jpg
 
Hink said:
Amen to that, brother. But it's so awesome to actually be able to get everything fixed fairly easily. In the past when things went south, they stayed down there for a long time.

BTW,

View attachment 48803
Click to expand...
That's weird and oh crap, I put a Kat's heater in mine after the previous one was leaking!
 
n8in8or said:
That's weird and oh crap, I put a Kat's heater in mine after the previous one was leaking!
Click to expand...
Well, I put another in it too. I've ran them for years. And I mean one unit for years. No real reason to think that they're all bad yet.
 
Nope, you should be able to find them at your local auto parts store or JC Whitney's. They plumb into the block (or the hose that runs to the lower radiator hose) and a heater hose. About the size of a pop can. There is also a style (used by Mercedes-Benz) that splices directly into the lower radiator hose, too.
 
Husker6.5 said:
Nope, you should be able to find them at your local auto parts store or JC Whitney's. They plumb into the block (or the hose that runs to the lower radiator hose) and a heater hose. About the size of a pop can. There is also a style (used by Mercedes-Benz) that splices directly into the lower radiator hose, too.
Click to expand...
Gotcha. Funny, I actually have one of those for my 240D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top