2004 Silverado 5.3 Overheated To 250 Degrees

quadtrac · July 18, 2011

I was pulling my camper home yesterday and as I was going up a steep hill it shifted into 2nd gear and for some reason it blew the hose off that goes to the heater core. I could hear it when the hose popped off at the coupling and pulled over and shut the engine off when I could pull over. The coolant temp got to about 250, and cooled back down in about 30 minutes. Do you think being that hot did any damage to then engine? I have always been running Mobil 1 oil in the truck if that makes any difference or not. Also when it cooled down I was able to just couple the hose back on the core and drove the truck home another 100 miles without any problems, What would cause it to come off like that? Thanks for any help!!

tyhuck · July 18, 2011

If you didnt see any more problems, then you are probably OK. But, I would definately have the thermostat replaced. Sometimes when you overheat the engine, the stat can become defective. I had that problem on my S10 when I got a crack in my radiator.

Doug_Scott · July 18, 2011

You may want to have the rad cap checked as well. I would expect it to vent before there was enough pressure to blow a hose off.

dewfpo · July 18, 2011

250 is not horribly high and since you got it pulled over immediately you should be o.k. I concur with others that it would be good to replace that heater hose, screw clamp, thermostat and reservoir cap.

DEWFPO

quadtrac · July 18, 2011

Ya I think im gunna be fine because I pulled the camper home which was about 100 miles and didnt have any problems, coolant temp ran exactly where its supposed to. Checked the oil after I got home and it was right at the full mark and smelt/looked just fine. Thanks

250 is not horribly high and since you got it pulled over immediately you should be o.k. I concur with others that it would be good to replace that heater hose, screw clamp, thermostat and reservoir cap.

DEWFPO

Bob D · July 19, 2011

250F = 15PSIG.

I wouldn't worry about lower engine damage.

Just hope that excessive pressure didn't compromise intake / head gaskets.

Ah, but now realizing that hose blew, point is mute...pressure not allowed to build.

quadtrac · July 20, 2011

So are you thinking that its not a big deal? The weird thing is that it was running normal operating temp right before it blow that right side quick coupler off the heater core! And that I could just couple it back on and put in coolant and drive all the way back home like that with no problems, Kinda strange to me!

250F = 15PSIG.
I wouldn't worry about lower engine damage.

Just hope that excessive pressure didn't compromise intake / head gaskets.

Ah, but now realizing that hose blew, point is mute...pressure not allowed to build.

DeePa · July 20, 2011

If you cap is defective then maybe the quick downshift with a hot engine blew the hose? If the cap was supposed to vent and it didnt, then maybe this was your issue? Either way change the oil and go from there.

What if the quick coupler at the heater core was already weak? Id maybe replace those too...

pm26 · July 20, 2011

Very short duration mild overheating usually does not damage anything. Loss of oil pressure would have beren a lot more damaging.

kdixer · July 20, 2011

Had an idler pulley melt on a trip one time. It was in a chevy malibu with the v-6. I heard a funny noise and the temp light came on shortly after. I pulled over within 30-45 seconds of hearing the noise. I replaced the idler pulley and drove the rest of the trip home. My wife drove the car for several days before it started burning antifreeze. The overheating had damaged the plastic intake gasket.

Not saying that will happen to your truck, but it is definatley something to watch for.

jandersinc · July 20, 2011

Reference post 6 from Bob D.

The point is "moot", not "mute".

Sorry, just had to poke sticks a little.

Wires · July 21, 2011

I was pulling my camper home yesterday and as I was going up a steep hill it shifted into 2nd gear and for some reason it blew the hose off that goes to the heater core. I could hear it when the hose popped off at the coupling and pulled over and shut the engine off when I could pull over. The coolant temp got to about 250, and cooled back down in about 30 minutes. Do you think being that hot did any damage to then engine? I have always been running Mobil 1 oil in the truck if that makes any difference or not. Also when it cooled down I was able to just couple the hose back on the core and drove the truck home another 100 miles without any problems, What would cause it to come off like that? Thanks for any help!!

The DIC will come up with an "engine overheat" warning when you get it way too hot.

wavery · July 21, 2011

250's not a "big deal". I wouldn't want to run at 250 for hours but short term.......... forget about it.

I'd change the radiator cap..... I wouldn't mess with the thermostat unless you show any more signs of issues or have high mileage.

nickvrebel · July 21, 2011

did the warning message "engine overheated" or something like that come up? if not no worry, I've done that one in my 2003 lol... and I was towing a nice load at the time.