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| | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 25 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 25 | I have a 1945 1 1/2 ton with the 235 in it. The engine was recently rebuilt and the truck is running again after a long slumber. We have noticed that the upper radiator hose is hot but the lower radiator hose is much cooler. The heater hoses are very hot. Is this the sign of a bad thermostat? There isn't a temperature gauge so I don't know the temperature of the water in the engine. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,760 | The lower hose is supposed to be cool- - - -that's what a radiator is for. Install a temp gauge and quit guessing.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 | The top radiator hose is hot water coming from the engine, it flows through the radiator which dissipates the engine heat to the air, the water coming from the radiator is cooler and goes back into the engine.
A bad thermostat needs a water temp gauge to verify.
Heater hose can be very hot if there is full flow in them.
Would suggest a temp gauge be installed, if you do not want one in the dash then mount one in the engine compartment.
Or if none is wanted at all at least buy a HF handheld IR temp sensor, it can not measure direct water temperature but will measure approximate temps on the thermostat housing
Baking in the nice desert sun, breathing life back into a 48 3800 5 window.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 233 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 233 | Normal. get a gauge or a temp gun to record surface temp. The rad top to bottom should be 20 degree diff.Mtneermike
1953 Chevy 3100 261 and SM420 53Chevy 31001953 Mack Firetruck 1972 Porsche 911 1986 Honda Goldwing
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