coolant problem

[Muzz the kiwi]

Hi all

I just noticed a little smell tru the heater vents in the cab , when i got home lifted the bonnet
and noticed the radiator hoses were sucked in and then the over flow from the top up tank belted out
some coolant the temp was 1/3 so it never got hot . has anyone had simalar problem . PS i took out
thermastate no diference . any help would be great ?

[jr689]

Could there be a blockage somewhere within your cooling system mate? I literally have no idea, just throwing ideas in the wind

[Muzz the kiwi]

Everything has being flushed and new coolant 1000k ago , its got me stumped i just want to
eliminate the easy things first like thermastate , radiator cap before i jump in and buy water pump

Thanks

[Brett_jjj]

If the bottom radiator hose is sucking in,this will stop the coolant flowing properly.There is usually a wire spring inside the lower radiator hose to stop it collapsing or sucking in.Check if the wire spring is still there ,they can corrode away when old, then the hose collapses from the suction of the water pump which then causes overheating problems.

[QuickVRII95]

Could there be a blockage somewhere within your cooling system mate? I literally have no idea, just throwing ideas in the wind

I Agree... Blockage &/Or Leak Somewhere...

Check The Heater Control Valve On Drivers Side Of Engine... (Hose That Loops To The Firewall..) Or
It Could Be Your Valley Gasket That's Blown & Sucking Coolant Into The Combustion Chamber...
(Check Your Exhaust Pipe For Coolant..)

Is It Running A Bit Rough & Using More Fuel..?? ^^^

[Muzz the kiwi]

Yeah thanks for that guys both radiator hoses have no spring in them , and she is running smooth as for
fuel i am pushing to get 400ks a 60l tank i replaced the heater control vaive 3 months ago , coolant is fine
not droping level .I might replace hoses with springs in them and see how that goe,s .

Regards Muzz

[Brett_jjj]

Its really only the bottom radiator hose that collapses if the wire spring corrodes away,thats because of the suction the water pump can generate.They dont make top hoses with the spring inside as the top hose doesnt need it.Id get the engine up to operating temp, and then get someone to rev the engine while you look at the bottom radiator hose to see if it is actually collapsing and blocking off the coolant flow.

[Muzz the kiwi]

cheers brett where can you buy the bottom hose with the spring i went to repco and there bottom hoses don,t have the spring ?

Muzz

[Brett_jjj]

Maybe the lower hoses for the commodores are reinforced some other way and dont need a spring inside them.I dont think my VSV6 has a spring in the bottom hose either,I went and had a quick look at it.Couldnt feel anything like a spring inside it either..I know a lot of other vehicles do use the spring setup though to stop the hose collapsing.Id just check to see if it is actually collapsing first.As I said above,get someone to rev the engine (at operating temp) while you look at the bottom hose to see if it sucks in and collapses as the engine revs rise.

[hako]

I really don't think bottom hoses need the spring inside to keep them open - that was back when cooling systems ran at 4 psi the Commodore runs at 20 psi which is almost the pressure you run in your tyres. The only time the coolant will flow a maximum rate is when the thermostat is fully open....and then the pressure inside the hose will be near 20 psi less whatever the pump creates.
A blocked radiator may cause this however, but that is the cause.....a non-collapsible hose will not fix a blocked radiator.....

[RX25SE]

Faulty vacuum valve in the radiator cap.

[hako]

Faulty vacuum valve in the radiator cap.

I'll second that - something I never thought of....they certainly can get clogged with crap especially if the incorrect coolant has been used.

[Muzz the kiwi]

Thanks everybody for your input , I reflushed cooling system last night bought a new radiator cap , refilled
with coolant and everything seems to be running as normal again .Once again thanks everybody and safe travels .

Regards Muzz