cooling system issue?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
cooling system issue?
well, tried to take the '78 to DMV today to get her registered and tagged but stopped for gas on the way and ended up having to turn around and come home........
The cooling system - radiator and expansion tank are both gurgleing and percolating.
I had filled it so that the coolant was at the "COLD" mark on the expansion tank when I dropped the motor in earlier this week.
looking at it now it's hot, smoking, and boiling but still now below the "COLD" mark on the tank.
You think it was just air trapped in there that needed burping to allow more coolant into the system and by adding more I should be OK or does it sound like something more serious.
Before I got the gas station and noticed the problem I had only driven about 7 miles or so
The temp gauge never went over about 210* so I don't think it's really overheating too bad but the coolant is definitly bubbling like crazy
The cooling system - radiator and expansion tank are both gurgleing and percolating.
I had filled it so that the coolant was at the "COLD" mark on the expansion tank when I dropped the motor in earlier this week.
looking at it now it's hot, smoking, and boiling but still now below the "COLD" mark on the tank.
You think it was just air trapped in there that needed burping to allow more coolant into the system and by adding more I should be OK or does it sound like something more serious.
Before I got the gas station and noticed the problem I had only driven about 7 miles or so
The temp gauge never went over about 210* so I don't think it's really overheating too bad but the coolant is definitly bubbling like crazy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Yep. need burping, fill the radiator to the top and let it idle with the heater on and rad cap off, fill it again when the thermo opens, cap it and go. You could also pop the thermo out and drill a 1/8 hole in it, that will belld off the air too.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
I let it cool down a bit so I could remove the radiator cap and it took about another 1/2 gallon of 50/50 mix. I than turned it on with the cap still off and let it run to come up to temperature so the t-stat would open up.
I'm not sure if the t-stat was still open from my running it before but once it reached temp it didn't suck down anymore coolant for me to add to it but it must have been flowing because the upper rad hose was getting hot all along it's length.
The temp didn't go over 200 this time.
Still not sure it's at 100% though so i'll check it the same way again tomorrow. I WISH I had swapped in a new t-stat when I had everything apart. I meant to but forgot and when it was time to button everything up I just grabbed the old one that had been in there and put it back in. I don't even know what temp rating that t-stat is - 160, 180, 195??
I guess I got a bit impatient during my reassembly and I HOPE it doesn't end up biting me in my a** now.
I'm not sure if the t-stat was still open from my running it before but once it reached temp it didn't suck down anymore coolant for me to add to it but it must have been flowing because the upper rad hose was getting hot all along it's length.
The temp didn't go over 200 this time.
Still not sure it's at 100% though so i'll check it the same way again tomorrow. I WISH I had swapped in a new t-stat when I had everything apart. I meant to but forgot and when it was time to button everything up I just grabbed the old one that had been in there and put it back in. I don't even know what temp rating that t-stat is - 160, 180, 195??
I guess I got a bit impatient during my reassembly and I HOPE it doesn't end up biting me in my a** now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Ohh, I didn't know you didn't have in a new t-stat. I would never have a system dry for more than a day or so and not put in a new one. They always seem to stick after being dry for any length of time. Just cheap insurance
