Bubbles in Coolant

J

JimmyWells

New member
Had an inframe done with a fire ringed head. Overflow tube still is damp so I did a bottle test. Weird thing is I've disconnected the compressor but still saw bubbles. There was still enough air in the tanks to operated the fan so I drained them 100 percent empty and the bubbles stopped. How can this be though? If the compressor is disconnected what else could be putting air in there?
 
...but I don't have any bubbles in the bottle with all air drained from the truck idling at 1400rpm with 210 degrees of temp.
 
What vehicle are we talking about? Does the cooling system have air operated heater valves?
 
JimmyWells said:
Had an inframe done with a fire ringed head. Overflow tube still is damp so I did a bottle test. Weird thing is I've disconnected the compressor but still saw bubbles. There was still enough air in the tanks to operated the fan so I drained them 100 percent empty and the bubbles stopped. How can this be though? If the compressor is disconnected what else could be putting air in there?
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Fire rings can take a little while to settle in. Try a retorque before testing again. What are you working on?
 
BigPapa said:
I'm guessing he's referring to the AIR compressor on something and stated he has bypassed the coolant going to it?
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I understood that.
I just don't know what equipment he's working on. We've had trucks come in that have air actuated valves for heater control. Those valves can leak into the cooling system. I assumed that being he posted in the big rig bla bla bla forum and mentioned air compressor it was not a pick-up.
 
Snedge said:
What vehicle are we talking about? Does the cooling system have air operated heater valves?
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Been quite a few engines torn down because of the Freightliner heater valve. Transmissions and rears replaced because of a bad leveling valve.
 
jfaulkner said:
Been quite a few engines torn down because of the Freightliner heater valve. Transmissions and rears replaced because of a bad leveling valve.
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My buddy just had a driver take a truck in for a " bad tranny" and apparently he had driven into a hole and overcentered the leveler. 2 hours of shoprate for that diagnosis, still cheaper than a trans so silver linings I guess.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
Sorry for the late reply, I've been out running. Anyway, it's 3406e in 94 W900. The only air actuated valve I know of is the fresh/recirculation valve inside the climate box. I talked to the shop that did the work about it and they mentioned it may have to settle in a little too. Thing is I don't think the bubbles are from combustion gasses because once I drain all air from the system with the compressor disconnected they go away. If I even leave enough air in the tanks to operate the fan, the bubbles will return.
 
JimmyWells said:
Sorry for the late reply, I've been out running. Anyway, it's 3406e in 94 W900. The only air actuated valve I know of is the fresh/recirculation valve inside the climate box. I talked to the shop that did the work about it and they mentioned it may have to settle in a little too. Thing is I don't think the bubbles are from combustion gasses because once I drain all air from the system with the compressor disconnected they go away. If I even leave enough air in the tanks to operate the fan, the bubbles will return.
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They’re talking out their ass on “settling in”. Who’s head? (is it the Chinese APC) Who’s head gasket? Once that gasket is crimped it’s crimped, nothing needs to settle.

Have you aired the truck up cold to see if it still does it? Meaning let it sit over night, don’t start it and charge the air system off an air compressor or other truck. Have you replaced the radiator cap? Pressurize the cooling system with a hand pump and see if leaks down after a few hours. Do this cold and hot.
 
jfaulkner said:
They’re talking out their ass on “settling in”. Who’s head? (is it the Chinese APC) Who’s head gasket? Once that gasket is crimped it’s crimped, nothing needs to settle.

Have you aired the truck up cold to see if it still does it? Meaning let it sit over night, don’t start it and charge the air system off an air compressor or other truck. Have you replaced the radiator cap? Pressurize the cooling system with a hand pump and see if leaks down after a few hours. Do this cold and hot.
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Richard at Antrim Diesel told me that. They did a Platinum overhaul, cut all six holes and had the head sent to the machine shop to have pressure tested and decked. When I got it back, it was still pushing coolant so they tore it apart, sent the head back to the machine shop who claimed they could see a slight carbon trail but pressure tested fine. Sent the head to K and D to have it ringed. I get it back and now here it is still pushing coolant.

I don't have a shop nor a compressor but I'll look into getting a pressure kit to check for leak down. When it's cold there's pressure when I take the cap off. It's a new 10lb cap from KW and I had them test it when I bought it.
 
JimmyWells said:
Richard at Antrim Diesel told me that. They did a Platinum overhaul, cut all six holes and had the head sent to the machine shop to have pressure tested and decked. When I got it back, it was still pushing coolant so they tore it apart, sent the head back to the machine shop who claimed they could see a slight carbon trail but pressure tested fine. Sent the head to K and D to have it ringed. I get it back and now here it is still pushing coolant.

I don't have a shop nor a compressor but I'll look into getting a pressure kit to check for leak down. When it's cold there's pressure when I take the cap off. It's a new 10lb cap from KW and I had them test it when I bought it.
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Ok the reason I asked is when we ring the heads you MUST use a Cat gasket. The location was measured for the exact location of the fire ring in the cat gasket and will not hit the other brands. Had one guy blow 3 before he admitted he was using IPD gasket. The size of the target is much smaller on those. Also some guys are cutting them with hand tools so the accuracy and wire protrusion is questionable. Liner height is a big deal too, since the wire is there I wouldn’t ever set one about .005.

Did anyone actually inspect the used gaskets to see if there were any cracks in the fire rings or they just pulling the head and throwing them away?

Get a pressure tester and pump the cooling system to 12psi and let it sit. Do it cold and hot (unless the problem shows itself immediately). Pulling the head again is last resort.
 
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