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

With a 1989 Ford with a 460 overheating, a hot top hose and a cold bottom hose strongly suggests a problem with the water pump. The water pump is responsible for circulating coolant through the engine. If it's failing, coolant isn't being properly pumped, leading to overheating in the engine block (hence the hot top hose) while the lower part of the system remains cold.

However, while a faulty water pump is the most likely culprit, it's not the *only* possibility. Other potential problems include:

* Thermostat stuck closed: Prevents coolant from circulating until it reaches a very high temperature. You'd expect the top hose to be hot, but the bottom hose might be *slightly* warm if some heat is transferred through the engine block. A completely cold bottom hose points more to the water pump.

* Air in the cooling system: Trapped air can prevent proper circulation. This is less likely to cause a completely cold bottom hose, but it's worth considering.

* Radiator cap failure: A faulty cap can't maintain proper system pressure, impacting circulation. But this usually shows other symptoms besides just a hot top hose and cold bottom.

* Restricted coolant flow: A clogged radiator, a blocked heater core, or debris in the system can impede flow. This might cause a more gradual overheating and not necessarily result in a completely cold bottom hose.

* Head gasket failure: While less likely to present *only* as a hot top hose and cold bottom, a blown head gasket can leak coolant into the cylinders or oil, causing overheating. This would likely be accompanied by other symptoms like white smoke from the exhaust, oil contamination, or loss of coolant.

Before jumping to conclusions (and expensive repairs):

1. Check the coolant level: Make sure you have enough coolant in the radiator and overflow tank. Low coolant could exacerbate any of the above problems.

2. Feel the radiator: Is it hot? If the radiator is also cold, it further supports a problem with water pump or thermostat. If the radiator is hot, the problem could be somewhere else in the system.

3. Check for obvious leaks: Inspect hoses, clamps, and the radiator for any leaks.

4. Check the thermostat: See if it's stuck closed. This is a relatively inexpensive and easy part to replace.

If after these checks you still have a hot top hose and cold bottom hose, the water pump is the most probable cause and should be inspected or replaced. A mechanic can perform a more thorough diagnosis. Ignoring this problem can lead to severe engine damage.