470...Another Weekend, Another Question-Closed Cooling System

[cheaperts]

1981 470 MC1, Took the ol girl out today, ran flawless, never passed 175 temp. When we came off the water, bilge had maybe 1/4 cup of water when I pulled the plug. Once I had her home I checked the engine compartment to see if anything was happening back there, oil leaks etc. I checked the coolant tank (on top of the manifold with the radiator cap) no coolant is visible in it. Before we went out it was visible, not full to the neck but visible. The system isn't dry, I can squeeze the hose going to the exchanger and get some to splash up into the tank, and the over flow bottle is full to the full line, as it has been no change there. No water in the oil, no antifreeze in the bilge, can it leak into the exhaust somehow? Maybe it just hasn't been full? Thoughts?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470...Another Weekend, Another Question-Closed Cooling System

If the riser gasket is bad it can leak into the exhaust, or if you have a leaky tube in the heat exchanger it can leak out there. I would suggest doing a cooling system pressure check. Pretty easy to do, you can borrow the tools to do the test (free) at Autozone. You should start out with the reservoir full and the overflow tank at the level indicated by the fill lines.