Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hello Everyone,

Is it normal for a 1937 115 with a 1938 110 engine in it to have the radiator bubble and foam when looking into it with the radiator cap off? Everything else is great with the car but it does seem to bubble and foam especially when the gas is pressed down in neutral instead of idle. It almost will bubble over the open radiator cap with the engine revved in neutral. I know that the bigger water pump on the 38 pumps 36 gallons per minute. I read where the level in the radiator should be about 1.5 to 2 inches above the level of the tubes perhaps mine is a little to full? About half my index finger will be submerged if I stick it in the radiator. Was it normal for these cars to have some bubbling, foaming and turning of the radiator when the car is warm? should I be worried about a pressurized exhaust gas leak into the radiator fluid from the head gasket. No white exhaust smoke, the milky oil either.

I don't want to be an alarmist but I was just looking to better understand my car that I have had for 2 years.

Thanks

James

Maybe you might want to re-torque the head and see if this helps, because it sounds like the head gasket is leaking to me.
Wes

James, I concur on the HG leaking. Not fatal, and not extraordinarily hard to replace. HG is on the way. Sent with the pans and Tmounts and a spare coil yesterday...my email database crashed, so I am in survival mode...
DAF

ditto on the HG.

when i replaced mine, i forgot to re-torque and it was actually blowing coolant out so high it wasn't even funny.

I will try to re torque the head first around 62 to 64 on the torque from what I have read. correct?

If I need to replace the HG should I replace the bolts, nut and washers or reuse them. They appear ok.

thanks

James

Unless damaged, the cylinder head fasteners are meant to be reused.

Thanks for all the advice. I checked the torque and the head bolts where lose. Some where only 40 to 50 so they are now all 63 and checked when the engine was warm after cooling down and now no more bubbling in the radiator 😄