Not bloated but stiff
 

My upper radiator hose has become stiff. alot stiffer than i like but not as stiff as the wife likes.... a little humor. it only started this after i did a full tune up on it. i do not see any bubbles in the coolant and i'm not using any either. any ideas. is it a death sentence for teh old 5.7?

Re: Not bloated but stiff
 

Huh? Who squeezes radiator hoses? So its not overheating, not blowing a ton of pressure out the overflow, not blowing bubbles, not using coolant, and running perfectly, sounds pretty good to me.

Re: Not bloated but stiff
 

My old Ford used to do that, I found out later it had a partial blockage in the radiator from an additive that the service fellow had supplied by mistake, it was past its "use by date".

Re: Not bloated but stiff
 

I've read on other engine forums that it could be a blockage or even a blown head gasket. I was just looking for some input from a vehicle specific form of help. Thanks

Re: Not bloated but stiff
 

Its nothing.

Its normal for a cooling system to be pressurized up to 15 PSI. If there is more pressure than that, the radiator cap will open and allow coolant to go to the overflow reservoir.



And I squeeze radiator hoses all the time. Usually its right before I take the radiator cap off. I do that to "feel" how much pressure is in there. I don't want to get burned or make a giant mess.

Re: Not bloated but stiff
 

From Lancaster Huh, Im outside Oxford about 35 minutes southeast of ya.

It just felt off to me compared to what it was......