Keep blowing up radiators

[Hugo Habicht]

There is still a problem with your radiator cap. It should limit the pressure building up before damage is done to the radiator.

In your first post you wrote nothing points to the head gasket. Get a CO2 test kit, cheap, simple, fast.

 

[Trash Panda]

“Found nothing to suggest a head gasket”

“Turns out, it was a head gasket”

 

[Five Acres]

I am also trying to track down the cause of high heat levels nearing the red zone.

Will attempt some of the tests/suggestions:

Belt tightening

Observation of fluid in radiator

Thermostat (it seems to be opening as both lower and upper hoses are hot)

New coolant as water has been added over time.

Is there an easy means to test for head gaskets failure or water pump failure?

Any suggestions?

 

[Five Acres]

It was a blown head gasket.

Curious to know the cost of that repair?

 

[Russell King]

Have you cleaned the exterior of the radiator fins really well?

 

[DaveFromMi]

I worked at an auto company several years. A new no leak (no jiggle pin) thermostat was being tested for production and had made it in several test vehicles. We had reports of heater and rad hoses blowing off and dumping coolant. Not sure of the driving pattern, but it was aggressive.
Basically, due to no venting (no jiggle pin), it would take excessive time for the stat to respond to hot coolant. They tried to make the stat work in a lab and eventually changed the spring and pellet to improve controllability. The problem was it responded to cooler (below opening) temps quick and the stat slammed shut resulting in a water hammer condition, blowing hoses off. The engine guys wanted us to provide braided steel hoses, lol.
End result was they went back to the old stat.