Your 1989 ford with a 460 is over heating the top hose is super hot while bottom hose is cold could this be the water pump or is this a bigger problem?

Answer 1

it could be the water pump but i would be 80% sure its probly the thermostat which runs about 8-10 bucks at autozone. you can check it by putting it in a pot of water on the stove turn on the heat and and use a thermometer to watch the water temp with you vehicle it should open around 195 degrees if it dosent then there is your problem. to find the thermostat follow the upper radiator hose from the radiator back to the engine the hose connects to the thermostat housing unbolt the thermostat housing (usually 2 bolts) and remove the thermostat replacement is in the opposite order also get a thermostat gasket to replace the one you will mess up when you remove the thermostat housing there are like .99cents it could also be that the cooling system has become clogged with sludge not letting the coolant flow to check that remove you radiator cap and look into your radiator and see if there is a lot of sludge type stuff usually brownish in color if that is the case have a cooling system flush done on you vehicle. DO NOT DO ANYOF THIS UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS SAT NOT RUNNING FOR AT LEAST ONE AND A HALF HOURS AND HAD A CHANCE TO COOL OR YOU COULD SUSTAIN MAJOR BURNS i hope this helps and happy holidays