Thought I was going to have a heart attack!

[beerhasvitamins]

Driving home from Thanksgiving Dinner and was pulling on the freeway so I figured I would let the Whipple get some action. Punched it up to 85 and noticed my heat get weak then blow cold. I sat there pondering why that would happen and only one thing was ringing in my head.......heater core is empty WTF...look at the cluster and see the temp needle climbing then engine over temp warning. I thought I was going to have a heart attack! I immediately let off the gas exited the freeway and pulled over. Steam pouring out of the hood....oh shit. Popped the hood expecting the worst and noticed the heater hose popped off the fitting on the front of the engine. These spring clamps are trash...wtf. Bought a 20 dollar gallon of 50/50(ripoff but it was 11pm) and a gallon of drinking water and I made it home.

Over temp was on for about 5 seconds and total run time after the heat left was about 30 seconds. Hopefully it wasn't enough to hurt anything!

These spring clamps are good for 1 use but once the original seal is broken replace them with a real clamp! I really think they shoulda been replaced when the Whipple was installed. Even after putting the hose back on I could move the hose up and down freely. Maybe it was the wrong clamp?

The truck ran perfectly fine the last 5 miles home. Now to flush her all out again and refill the coolant. What a mess this made.

 

[6.2]

i know where your coming from with the panic!

but you acted quick, and smart. so i dont think theres any cause for alarm. it is a good heads up for other owners though. check the clamp!

 

[Turbo95max]

There's no harm with just putting water in. Coulda saved 20 bucks! Hopefully everything is all good.

 

[fordfan]

Wow. I was thinking this was leading to head gaskets!!!! Anyways glad it was a simple fix and im sure no harm done to the motor with that short drive time

 

[Ruger]

Your quick action saved a top flight engine from the trash heap. Very good.

And excellent advice on the hose clamps. Anything that has a spring can fatigue, particularly when exposed to thousands of heat cycles. Spring hose clamps are a one-use item.

 

[Gunner75]

Spring clamps are not a one use item. Many questions come up with the OP. Wrong clamp???? Maybe. Turned wrenches for several years and used spring clamps over and over.
I will say that with any air lock, you will receive a "burst" when it passes and spring clamps may not hold, but with that said, std hose clamps can be over tightened and equally weak as this or not tight enough and similar results. '
Maybe they used lube or "grease" to aid in assembly????

If a spring clamp is over or slightly on the barb, I could see one popping. Just my .02