cooling system?

[94gsl5.0]

OK... After replacing my radiator my car was still runnin hotter than i thought was normal... The upper radiator hose was so tight i couldn't squeeze it at all and the coolant recovery system did not seem to functioning. Turns out i had a bad radiator cap. After obtaining 4 different caps that didn't work (I hate Shucks) i switched back to the stock one and what do ya know, things started working and running cool, was good for about a week now i think its doin it again, ran hotter than i would like comin to work. And my low coolant light flashes on for about a second then shuts off (about once a day) and the overflow is full. On my way home tonight i am gonna see if she pulled of of the overflow like she should. My question is how tight should the upperhose get at peak? It almost feels like its got a bad cap again. Could be me just being paranoid. And has anybody had the coolant light flash on for a sec when everything coolant level wise seems good?

 

[94gsl5.0]

so i checked on the recovery tank after lettin her sit and the system seems to be pullin from it so i guess my stock cap still works... as for the low coolant light flashin on than off while the recovery tank is full... anybody have any ideas?

 

[squall9393]

Let's see your mods, what temp thermostat you are running, and what your temp sensor is doing.

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

If the coolant light comes on and you have coolant then most likely the sensor is just bad. Autozone rents pressure testers for free to test your cap. Just ask them for their cooling system pressure tester or simply take your cap to them if you have a second vehicle. Your cap should maintain around a 16-18 psi level before it bleeds pressure. If it goes over 18-20, get a new factory one.

 

[94gsl5.0]

Thanks guys... As for my mods so far,

94 5.0 94,000 miles
18 in momo sport knockoffs
180 thermostat
MM Full length sub frames
brand modine radiator
more to come hopefully sooner than later.

think Shucks will have the cap tester? I hate going to them but they are 3 blocks away from my house so i could just pull the cap and walk there.

 

[94gsl5.0]

So i should have some pressurization of the the upper hose once she is up and runnin right? Thats what my shop told me but i wanted to see what you guys thought. Not rock hard but there should be resistance to me squeezin the hose?

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

So i should have some pressurization of the the upper hose once she is up and runnin right? Thats what my shop told me but i wanted to see what you guys thought. Not rock hard but there should be resistance to me squeezin the hose?

Well that hose should have around 16psi of pressure in it, so yeah, it will be pretty darn tight.

 

[squall9393]

Yeah once the engine has warmed up that thing should hard to squeeze.

 

[94gsl5.0]

thanks for your input guys, newbie to the whole 5.0 thing... i have never even had a coolant recvovery tank in my car before...haha. Used to be an old power wagon 4x guy. Turns out my cap was actin up so i picked up a ford one this morning and hopefully things should be back to normal. Again, thanks for bearing with me.