does it have to bubble for heads

[red_ranger93]

do you have to see bubbles in the rad or the overflow to be a headgasket i dont have bubbles but when the truck is running the rad fluid slowly trickles out the rad but there are no bubbles it seems odd to me this happens right when it is started and stays goin

 

[sfwjesse]

Hard to understand your question, but if you mean its actually dripping on the ground find out where its coming from. Could be bad water pump....blown hose...etc.

If fluid is mysteriously dissappearing, a good way to see if its the head gasket is to look at your exhaust. Coolant will burn and make a white sweet smelling smoke. You can also check your oil and look for green beads of coolant in it....it doesnt mix with the oil.

 

[Big Jim M]

The reason for the coolant tank is because when the coolant gets hot it EXPANDS! It grows in size and there is too much for the system to hold, so it goes out the overflow and into the tank.
Big JIm

 

[red_ranger93]

if you run it with the rad cap off it slowly pushes out coolant it doesnt change how fast it flows out if you rev it up but doesnt bubble and the truck doesnt smoke

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Are you over heating just change the thermostat especially if you dont know how old it is. Get a good motorcraft stock t-stat find where the leak is then fix the leak and change the stat and troubleshoot from there.

 

[red_ranger93]

its not overheating yet but it fluctuates in temperature like it will go up and then all of a sudden it will drop down to where i think it should be at so im thinkin maybe the thermastat isnt staying open at running temp

 

[Big Jim M]

Examples???

its not overheating yet but it fluctuates in temperature like it will go up and then all of a sudden it will drop down to where i think it should be at so im thinkin maybe the thermastat isnt staying open at running temp

Thermostats don't "stay open".. They fluctuate! As the engine speeds up it gets hotter.. So the thermostat opens more. Then when at idle as the engine temp cools the thermostat colses to only allow the proper amount of coolant to pass.
So if one has a sensitive gauge he will see the needle move up and down, depending on the amount of heat being generated by the engine at any particular minute.
Big JIm