# My damn truck just threw up coolant all over my garage **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 29, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125 "2021-05-29T03:19:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/21 "2021-05-29T21:52:23Z")
+1 Additionally, I strongly suggest that they OP check to see whether some of that spewing coolant might have made its way into the **un-covered** master cylinder. Coolant contamination of the brake fluid is likely to lead to an unpleasant and expensive experience. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/22 "2021-05-29T23:33:33Z")
There is a tank on both sides of the radiator. On the driver side there is a plug but also has 2 separate engine oil cooler fittings if your truck has this option. Any of those 3 have the potential for puking out engine coolant along with the cracked tank scenario. There are 2 separate fittings on the passenger side tank for the transmission fluid cooler lines. Those also have the potential for being a problem although my gut feeling is that those are not an issue at this time. I would suggest a thorough visual inspection of the tanks as a first step. Next step fill with plain water and see if anything starts leaking. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/23 "2021-05-30T03:42:35Z")
I 've run it at the most for about ten seconds. It’s not going to heat up ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/24 "2021-05-30T03:47:02Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > AFAIK There was no coolant on the top of the engine. Just the lower engine wheel well and mostly on my drier. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/25 "2021-05-30T03:49:21Z")
I had to look up how that could happen. The first post I was was someone friend topping off their coolant, but it was their break fluid… ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/26 "2021-05-30T20:56:18Z")
> [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > I 've run it at the most for about ten seconds. It’s not going to heat up In that case I’d say you might have a bad head gasket. Just a guess but something caused a lot of pressure to build up in a short time and I can’t think what else it could be. > [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](#): > > There was no coolant on the top of the engine. Just the lower engine wheel well and mostly on my drier. “AFAIK” = As Far As I Know. Standard Internet abbreviation. The reference was to the water pump being driven by the serpentine belt, nothing to do with where the coolant wound up. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/27 "2021-05-30T21:12:16Z")
I think your right about the head gasket. When I cranked the engine the number one cylinder was out and pointing right where the coolant shot out. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/28 "2021-05-30T21:16:18Z")
Actually I’m pretty sure its the intake manifold ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/29 "2021-05-30T21:25:37Z")
You started the engine with a spark plug removed, you could have stated that in the original post, how could anyone know how the coolant went from the radiator to the front suspension? Pressurize the cooling system and see if that cylinder fills with coolant while the piston is on the compression stroke (both valves closed). If the intake manifold is leaking coolant it won’t fill the cylinder if the valves are closed. If the head gasket is leaking, the cylinder will fill with coolant. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/30 "2021-05-30T21:28:20Z")
I did not realize it was out. I’ve been swamped with school and haven’t looked at it in weeks. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/31 "2021-05-30T21:41:18Z")
I just shoved a paper towel in it, cranked it for a sec, and out came coolant ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 7:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/32 "2021-05-31T07:57:12Z")
> [@PvtPublic](#): > > 20 year old 4.3 pickup, I’d send to a scrap yard. They might give you a couple bucks based on the weight. Surely, you jest. In today’s market, the engine could be completely shot, and this truck would still be worth $1000 or more–assuming a valid title and semi-decent body. I wouldn’t take the pittance a junkyard would offer, when selling it on Craigslist could easily yield 4 to 5 times as much money for not much cost and effort. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/33 "2021-05-31T14:07:59Z")
Pick and pull offered me 280. I put it up on Facebook marketplace. It has a lot of new parts and I didn’t cheap out on than. Ithanks for the heads up. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/34 "2021-05-31T20:41:42Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > Surely, you jest. In today’s market, the engine could be completely shot, and this truck would still be worth $1000 or more–assuming a valid title and semi-decent body. For that matter, if the rest of the truck is in decent shape it might be a candidate for a used/rebuilt engine. It would certainly fetch more in running condition. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/35 "2021-05-31T22:58:20Z")
It was a nice truck. Transmission was super smooth. If I had more time I would swap out engines. The tires have maybe 200 miles on them. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/36 "2021-05-31T23:32:53Z")
Those small trucks are popular so bad engine or not it’s worth some money and certainly not a candidate for the scrap yard. ---
**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125/37 "2021-06-01T16:05:45Z")
I would, but I don’t have time. I’m in the middle of moving [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-damn-truck-just-threw-up-coolant-all-over-my-garage/177125.md?page=1)