invictuseddie
+1y
So... I noticed the other day when I was working on my truck (1986 B2000) that the seal on my radiator cap was crap, so I headed down to the local advance auto and picked one up.
I was given a Stant 13PSI cap. I didn't think anything about it, because they looked the cap up in the system for my specific vehicle and had no trouble finding it.
Well, I installed the cap and have been driving the truck since (maybe about a week).
Fast forward to last night - I had been doing errands in the early afternoon and had just pulled up at my brother in-law's to pick up the kids. While I was waiting on my wife, I noticed that my temp gauge was running slightly higher than usual - and was actually slowly rising. I had remembered that I didn't check my antifreeze level when I put the new cap on - and thought I might be low... so I opted to shut my engine off. About 30 seconds after I did - I heard a loud pop-hiss and white smoke POURED out from underneath my hood.... to say the least - I was terrified.
I hopped out and popped the hood and found that one of the heater hoses that runs from the heater core out to the engine actually split. The back of my engine compartment had antifreeze all over it. I was glad that it was just a hose that had split... but I got curious as I was standing there waiting on my engine to cool down.
I flipped the seat down and found the old radiator cap and realized that it was actually a 0.9PSI cap! I had added a crapload of extra pressure to my system without even knowing it. Stupid move on my part for not checking - but even still...
Advance just told me that a 13PSI cap is what the truck "was supposed to come with from the factory." Without having a repair book yet, I cannot confirm or deny that... and if that statement is true, what the hell would my radiator be doing with a 0.9PSI radiator cap installed? Is there any advantage to doing that? I'm very confused.
I am actually heading out to the truck right after I post this to replace both heater hoses and refill my radiator - my father has told me to put the old radiator cap on there until I can find a new 0.9PSI cap. My large top and bottom radiator hoses feel a bit spongy - and I am worried that one of them might split or burst next if I reinstall the 13PSI cap.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Insight?