Re: RE: Re: Radiator EXPLODED on a trail...geeeez

From: Killerdak@aol.com
Date: Sun Jan 21 2001 - 13:28:16 EST


yes, factory gaskets on a '96 3.9L. 115,000+ miles, stant heavy duty 180
degree stat. Hayden 3710 fan.
____________________
Dave Kilian -- Clayton, NC
'96 Dakota CC 4x4 3.9L 5-spd, 4.10, 4" susp/2" Body lift, 33" MT's etc...
http://cnc.4x4.org/members/members.php3?member=david_kilian

In a message dated 1/21/01 1:10:12 PM, prodog@swbell.net writes:

<< Were the head gasket the factory ones? I'm beginning to wonder if the

factory head gaskets are worth a shit or not. I know that the 360 I'm

building is going to have really good head gaskets in it... I don't want to

fry another engine from using cheap gaskets...

I found coolant in the oil of my 318 earlier this week... either from head

gasket failure or cracked block... probably caused by the thermostat...

Oh well, nothing I can do about it now... just have to build another

motor...

Later,

Tom "Slick"

-----Original Message-----

From: owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET

[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET]On Behalf Of Chris Mangano

Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 11:40 AM

To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net

Subject: DML: Re: Radiator EXPLODED on a trail...geeeez

Check your head gaskets. If it got that hot you could have blown them?

----- Original Message -----

From: <Killerdak@aol.com>

To: <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>

Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2001 12:32 PM

Subject: DML: Radiator EXPLODED on a trail...geeeez

> OK, so I hit a local trail yesterday afternoon with a buddy in an old

> 4Runner, just cause the trails were nice and slick and we needed a quick

4x4

> fix. Hit a very muddy, soupy, huge, deep mudhole and I got high-centered

on a

> rut, tires spinning, kicking up tons of mud but going nowhere...tried

pulling

> me with the 4Runner but no luck, I was STUCK.

> Apparently I overheated pretty bad because while I'm fishing around the

> toolbox for a shovel and Hi-Lift, I hear a loud BAAAM! and big billowy

clouds

> of steam are coming from the engine bay...CRAP! I shut down the engine,

temp

> gauge is maxed out. Pop the hood, the radiator had exploded and there is

hot

> coolant everywhere. The entire top plastic half of the radiator had blown

> out, ripped to shreds. I was stunned!

> How it happened, not sure. Need to do some investigating. Perhaps electric

> fan did not kick in, perhaps it did not cool fast enough, don't know

yet...

> Had to call another rig with a winch to get me out and towed to the road,

got

> flatbedded home. Can't get a replacement radiator from anywhere for at

least

> a couple days, AutoZone so far had best price. And the Dak is my ONLY

> vehicle...

>

> Has this ever happened to anybody? The guy that winched me out thinks that

> the electric fan is not drawing enough airflow when I'm going slow on

trails,

> thinks a spacer and a shroud might help...?

>

> Also, having the engine overheated like that, is there anything I need to

> check that might have been seriously damaged? There were a couple times

> getting out of the slippery trail that I had to start the engine back up

> (without coolant) to turn the wheels to get unstuck but it was not long...

> ____________________

> Dave Kilian -- Clayton, NC

> '96 Dakota CC 4x4 3.9L 5-spd, 4.10, 4" susp/2" Body lift, 33" MT's etc...

> http://cnc.4x4.org/members/members.php3?member=david_kilian >>



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