92 taurus cooling system problems.

Is it normal for the top rad hose to be hard as a rock and hot as CRAP after the engine has been running for a while?

I will follow up with the rest of the story and problems when I have time to post it.

Thank you.

98.6 degrees F is not all that hot for the cooling system, especially if the car has been running for more than 15 minutes or so.

-Rod

Depending of the make and condition of your rad cap. If you have a good quality cap with 2 layers valve, it shouldn't be too hot, cause the sealant reduce the thermal conductivity. Even if temp reaches 250°F, we should be able to remove it with hands w/o burning (even if we shouldn't do it). Check the condition of your cap. If it's hot at 98.6°F, you have a serious problem with it.

Normally it shouldn't be hard to turn. You turn, push it and turn again. Maybe your sealant has burned and become deformed, which increase friction when you turn.

Rod- ouch! I don't want to know how you were that precise.

37°C*1.8+32 = 98.6°F. Now you know.
It's the human body temperature. He just compare the coolant temp to the hand temp.

Well, sort of. I first assumed that the CRAP referenced in the original post was fresh, and still at human body temp. It had nothing to do with hand temp. ;)

-Rod