Why Do LS Engines Have Steam Tubes?

[@mikeypooh1]

I’ve seen many videos addressing this issue, but this one provided an exceptional explanation without fill-in material trying to push their products.

[@TheReinoPaasonen]

These holley efi and LS videos are best in the industry. Thank you Holley!

[@Louie88]

Best explanation I’ve found thank you

[@stoneyswolf]

The SBC 400 has steam holes in the cylinder head. If you install aftermarket cylinder heads and don't drill them you can have overheating problems.

[@HolleyPerformance]

I was unaware of that, Good info! J

[@jasperpipes4222]

Unless you have a Dart SHP 400 block and aftermarket heads, then definitely DON'T drill steam holes ! [stock block, yes]

[@TexasNova]

They do not recommend routing it to the Water Pump 2:19. Needs to be routed just under the Radiator Cap

[@TheBarnCarsandBicycles]

pretty sure the big kit with the merge block won't fit under a stock LS1 or LS6 intake. Does Holley have a solution?

[@moreclips805]

Ive got a really interesting question. Can i use a steam port connection as a temp fix for a blown head gasket? Exhaust is getting into my cooling system and it displaces the coolant into the overflow tank. Wondering if i can vent those fumes with a simple t connection on upper radiator hose. Extra line leading to the drain of my overflow tank 😂 so janky, but in theory do you think it would work?

[@1darryloflife]

Good point now concentrate on the water pump and see if it performs according to the required flow rate and head pressure for the heat output of the engine. You will find as we have that the water pump is the most important component on an engine, in order to bring about a proper tune spec. Both Ford and chevy woke up to this a few years ago which is why they placed the thermostat on the inlet. There is still alot of work to be done.

[@deankay4434]

@PPR Darryl So, the statement the GM woke up a few years ago and placed the thermostat low, how do you explain the 1992 Buick RoadMaster & Caprice. They had reverse flow coolant systems, just like the 3.2L engine found in the Isuzu Trooper and 1993 Rodeo? There cooled coolant went to the back, not the front. I worked on them at the dealer. They gain 18 horse power by making this change. Another of 163 companies Holley now owns. Starting with two cars in 1900, then built carburetors for others, mostly airplanes. ASE Master Tech since 78.

[@1darryloflife]

@@deankay4434 Smokey Yunick was the one who reversed the coolant flow but our system placed the water pump front and centre. We placed a restriction on the outlet and inlet which allowed a properly set up pump to perform at most rev levels. We were gaining an average of 6 to 8 inches of mercury at idle. We had a thermostat in the inlet allowing the coolant to flow according to the throttle position. We can successfully run A/F ratios of up to 55:1. without burning a piston although the power is down.

[@1darryloflife]

@@deankay4434 That Buick engine created more problems by placing the thermostat at the back of the engine. Around 1990 the Buick V6 occupied a warehouse in Detroit stored there as a mistake until GM found an outlet in Australia after Nissan had rejected GM in Australia for installation engineering mistakes in their VK Commodore . GM in Australia took the failed Buick V6 3.8 liter engine and reworked the cooling system bringing the thermostat back to thew front of the engine and taking out the inherent floor in the crankshaft design. By 1997 GM in Australia fixed the mistake and we ended up with a good engine but only after trial and error. GM America still has not confronted the elephant in the room with the LS as the pump is atrocious. Fix the pump fix the overheating problem. Steam tubes are an admission of a problem .

[@bryancingel2167]

So if mine are having problems. Would this cause over heating while driving? It stays normal at idle but when I drive it over heats

[@knucklestheechidna5718]

Could you not put a t fitting on the hose going from the reservoir to the radiator and hook steam vents up to that?

[@icebergnews886]

Can you please tell me if coolant is supposed to be a steady flow back into the radiator on a Chevrolet LS6.0 Thanks

[@Pittaz]

What do you recommended for a throttle body bypass setup on an ls1

[@RideUnited28]

I have 5.3 240sx turbo,u think with blocked rear steam ports and just the front steam line will be ok? 2003 5.3 stock 706 heads

[@liveandletlive2894]

So coolant is flowing in it out of those 2/4 holes on top of the engine?

[@nyplantingsgardendesigners5645]

Do the later model LS7 have a different setup? I tried swapping my 2006 LS7 kit onto a new GMPP LS7 crate engine and the adapter that bolts over the steam hole dowel is too long.

[@CVPI03]

where can i get the AN fitting that goes on radiator?

[@HolleyPerformance]

Here's a link, just select the size of AN fitting you need in the menu at the left. Thx J www.holley.com/brands/earls/products/plumbing_an_fittings_and_hose/weld_ons_and_fill_caps/male_an/

[@monkey150mph]

If you vacuum fill the cooling system you shouldn't have a problem

[@cristianh8]

So I can just refill my engine coolant by just putting coolant into the radiator? I’m on a ls swap and I have my fitting on a water pump spacer

[@HolleyPerformance]

Yep!

[@jamesdriscoll2478]

the cold water come in though the thermostat ? thats what the vid shows at :45

[@HolleyPerformance]

Yes, GM LS engines locate the thermostat on the "inlet" side of the motor - specifically in the inlet housing of the water pump. With this design, when the engine is cold the coolant is circulated through the radiator (look at the unique design of the LS thermostats), but is prevented from entering the engine until the temperature of the thermostat has been reached, at which point the thermostat opens and the coolant flows into the engine. Thx J

[@krazobuildz7567]

Nice

[@wayne007nz]

why would you want to tap into water pump to circulate steam back through engine

[@Cee-dk1wj]

Now what if you have a filled block

[@KevinHarris-hg9hr]

K

[@jeffbowman8265]

This is total crap... just another way to make a buck.

[@stevenkirk2563]

I suppose gm engineers put them on because they look Pretty?