How to Troubleshoot a 1987 Chevy Truck

If your Chevy truck's engine has been overheating, allow it to cool off first before removing the radiator cap.

Your 1987 Chevy truck might malfunction in one of several ways. If you like to tinker and have some basic engine repair tools, such as a drain pan, screwdrivers and a socket wrench set, you can do a variety of repairs in your driveway or garage. Because there were many different models made and engines used in 1987 Chevrolet trucks, this article will focus on overheating problems in an R10, half-ton pickup with a six-cylinder engine and two-wheel-drive.

Things You'll Need

• Socket wrench set
• Funnel
• 50-50 antifreeze mixture
• Gaffer's tape

Instructions

1. Open the hood on your truck. Wait until your truck's engine is cool to the touch before trying to do any troubleshooting or repairs.

2. Check the air intake and filter, making sure that all connections and fittings are secure. Turn on your engine and feel for any excessive vacuum leaks on the air-inlet tubes leading toward the manifold, which is a ribbed-metal component near the middle of the engine. Wrap gaffer's tape around leaks and change your air filter if it's dirty.

3. Inspect your coolant level, based on the "Maximum" and "Minimum" lines on the overflow reservoir. Pour coolant that is a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and 50 percent water through a funnel into the reservoir. If the engine is cool, remove the radiator cap to top off the coolant in your radiator.

4. Feel around the top radiator hose of your truck. If the hose is still cool to the touch while the rest of the engine is hot, you may have a closed thermostat that is preventing coolant from circulating properly throughout your engine.

5. Drain the coolant from the radiator into a catch pan by unscrewing the radiator drain plug. Be sure that the coolant fluid is not hot when you drain it.

6. Remove the thermostat by removing the water outlet elbow assembly from the engine. Use a socket wrench to remove the two mounting bolts from the elbow assembly. Test the thermostat by placing it in a pot of boiling water. As the water heats up, the thermostat's valve should open; as the water cools down, the valve should close. If the thermostat's valve is stuck in either position, install a new thermostat into your R10 truck. Make sure the thermostat's pin hole is facing upward and the spring side is facing the elbow.

References

• Auto Zone: Repair Guide 1987 Chevy R10 Pickup
• Troubleshooters: Steve Litt's Overheating Guide
• If It Jams: Car Engine Overheating or Antifreeze Leak

Resources

• Troubleshooters: Automotive Troubleshooting
• 2 Car Pros: Engine Overheating or Running Hot