Flacid Hose

[RagTop]

Back in the good old days, when the Mustang was hot, the top radiator hose was taut and rigid. I think we can all remember those times. :thu Anyway, I checked the radiator level on the Stang about a week ago and the top of the tubes were showing, so I topped it up with some distilled water. I'm running distilled water, Water Wetter and green stuff in an unknown mixture. Soooo......I took the car to a local cruise in last night and noticed that it was puking coolant on the ground from the overflow. I usually leave my top tank down about one knuckle to allow for expansion. When I went to check the radiator the top tank hose was flacid. I removed the cap and it came off pretty easily. There wasn't any pressure in the system. The car, BTW, was running very normally and actually sat in a fast food drive thru without heating up earlier in the day. I assumed the cheapest thing, which would be a radiator cap, and, since I had a backup, I replaced the correct chrome Autolite 13# cap with a Stant 16# with the release lever. I drove it around with that cap but the hose was still flacid at operating temp. I stopped for gas and went back to the 13# chromie and it actually had a little rigidity in the hose by the time I got it home, but it was still pretty squeezy. Now, before I throw a couple of Viagra tablets into the radiator, does anyone have a suggestion as to what my Mustang's problem might be. Stuck thermostat? Some sort of a leak from the water pump? There's no milkshake in the crankcase and no steam vapor from the exhausts, so I'm guessing the head gaskets are intact, but it is losing pressure someplace.

 

[Midlife]

After puking the water and cooling down a bit, there's now no pressure in the system and a low level of water: should be normally 1 inch below the top of the radiator as you indicated. Pressure will only build up and make the hose rigid when there's no more air in the system and the radiator is full of water, ready to puke. I'd make sure you had enough water in the system and leave it alone: sounds normal to me.

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of radiator? On some of the aftermarket ones I have had trouble with the reach of the cap. It would not seal and the system would never pressurize. Was there a loss of coolent?

 

[RagTop]

At the risk of being accused of crying wolf, the problem seems to have disappeared just as silently and inexplicabily as it arrived. I took it out for a drive yesterday and, afterward, the top hose was rigid and the system was under pressure. Maybe there was an air bubble in there. Quien sabe? Anyway, thanks for the responses. I'm not going to look this gift horse in the mouth. If it aint broke.........

 

[cmayna]

When you mentioned flacid, I though for sure you were commenting about a part of KBMWRS.

 

[RagTop]

Sure! I make a simple remark about flacid hoses and everybody thinks it's double entendre. :shrug How are you Craig? Still ragging Mike, I see. You guys going to the spring Niles car show on Saturday?