Ford 8N dribbling coolant out of radiator overflow, not overfilled.

sixdogs · Sunday at 7:00 PM

Just keep it simple. These run with near zero maintenance and keep going with all sorts of neglect.

After it drains down two quarts, does it overheat or run at the correct temp?

BossofBBQ · Sunday at 7:02 PM

Seems to stabilize around 200 degrees or so, with my 180* thermostat. No overheating problems so far, but I’ve never really worked it hard or anything. Ambient temps have been in the 70s here in Colorado.

sixdogs · Sunday at 7:27 PM

will your radiator hose only go on one direction? I recall, from the 1970's that mattered. I think the thermostat went in the hose, right?

John0829 · Sunday at 7:45 PM

Did it do this before you replaced the thermostat and the other things you have done to it?

BossofBBQ · Sunday at 8:59 PM

Yep, the thermostat is in the upper radiator hose, and the pointy end is going towards the radiator. I didn’t run it much before I serviced it; but the guy I bought it from was running it without a thermostat in place.

I’m honestly not sure if it leaked before- I only drove it onto my trailer when I bought it. Directly after that I did a coolant flush and installed a thermostat.

sixdogs · Sunday at 9:18 PM

Is the thermostat closest to the engine?

BossofBBQ · Sunday at 9:24 PM

My temperature sender is closest to the engine, and thermostat is after that, directly in the middle of engine and radiator in the upper hose. I thought long and hard about doing it the other way, but then my temp gauge wouldn’t read anything until after the tstat started to open, just because of the direction of coolant flow.

ultrarunner · Sunday at 9:46 PM

Maybe someone knowledgeable on 8N thermostat position can confirm?

My understanding is the OEM 160 thermostats point to the radiator.

Many use aftermarket 180 that are designed the opposite and point to the engine.

Seen some use a 180 degree stat used OEM for Renault.

In the old car world 160 degree minimizes the old alcohol base antifreeze boil off…

No such problem with modern antifreeze.

sixdogs · Sunday at 9:46 PM

BossofBBQ said:
My temperature sender is closest to the engine, and thermostat is after that, directly in the middle of engine and radiator in the upper hose. I thought long and hard about doing it the other way, but then my temp gauge wouldn’t read anything until after the tstat started to open, just because of the direction of coolant flow.

I don't remember mine from years ago but search some Ford site that mentions where to put it. It did matter here it was in the hose but I can't recall.

4Liberty · Monday at 7:32 AM

Just curious, can you post a pic of the new cap? It’s almost as if the seal on the cap isn’t doing it’s thing. It’s hard to see in the pics, is it possible the neck is damaged/deformed where the seal seats? I wonder if the top being deformed is holding the cap up and not letting it close all the way? I’m assuming that it does this on level ground and not moving? Because with the cap off completely in those conditions it would sit there all day running and no water should push out if the level is correct