C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

ANOTHER coolant question

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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 07:21 PM
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Default ANOTHER coolant question

OK guys sorry for another coolant question I searched a bunch of them and couldn't find an answer - We recently bought a 1996 coupe w/14,500 miles on it, the lady we got it from had all the records of oil changes and when I ask about the antifreeze she said she never had it change, we all know what dexcool does over time lets not go down that road. Temps were high for me but not high for the lt1 I'm learning 200-230 Ok so fast forward I bought a kwiklift (awesome BTW no more jack pucks for the c5) Two new gm knock sensers for good measure, 8 gallons of dist water for flushing, new overflow tank, 4 gallons of 50/50 prestone dex cool antifreeze(YES I KNOW I PAID ALOT FOR WATER, and a new ac delco rad cap. Did the flush and refill and burped it, temps are about the same 200-220 driving 230 sittiing idle then back to 219 so around the time the fans come on around 223 ?boiling point? the overflow fills completely to the top and stays there till the engine cools down and COMPLETLY emptys the overflow tank, if I add antifreeze to the COOL line after the next run it sucks that dry puts the level in black to the very top. Is it supposed to or normal to completely empty that tank??
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 08:33 PM
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Just guessing:
something is restricting flow, check hoses & waterpump
Didn't change the thermostat and its not opening, if new could be wrong temp - should be 190 IIRC

Did you pressure test the system?
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by jaa1992
Just guessing:
something is restricting flow, check hoses & waterpump
Didn't change the thermostat and its not opening, if new could be wrong temp - should be 190 IIRC

Did you pressure test the system?
No I didn't do pressure test should have huh?, I did buy a new gates superstat 180 when I first thought it was running hot but didn't change it when I learned temps were ok. I still think I may have air in the system(maybe?) because when I shut off the engine it sounds like a 5 year old kid sucking milkshake threw a straw
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 09:41 PM
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Originally Posted by jayr2k
No I didn't do pressure test should have huh?, I did buy a new gates superstat 180 when I first thought it was running hot but didn't change it when I learned temps were ok. I still think I may have air in the system(maybe?) because when I shut off the engine it sounds like a 5 year old kid sucking milkshake threw a straw
Car has a bleeder valve right at thermostat area.
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 11:24 PM
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Clean the debris out of the bottom fins of the radiator, C4's suck up road junk and this blocks airflow.
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by CHARGED UP
Car has a bleeder valve right at thermostat area.
I just drained, flushed and refilled mine last week. I purged the system (LT-4) at the bleeder valve on top of the thermostat housing and have not experienced any problems.

Also, my temps are exactly the same as your when the fans cycle on and off.
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Old Oct 28, 2010 | 08:18 PM
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My temps seem to be ok, after I did the change we drove 6hrs round trip before I noticed the overflow was completly empty when cold hopefully I didn't hurt a engine with only 14k on it temps never went over 230 so... One more thing about the tstat which I'm going to change, if it is stuck OPEN will this cause the flow problem I'm having? Because when I pulled the knock sensors I poured a gallon of dist water in the tank(for the hell of it) and it came straight out the block, is there a bypass or shouldn't the cold tstat keep fluid out of the block?? stupid question?
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Old Oct 28, 2010 | 11:19 PM
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Water can flow from both directions. There are no check valves. Water is going somewhere. Either not all the air was out or you are boiling over or you have a leak or worst case you have a blown head gasket.
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Old Oct 29, 2010 | 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 62panshovel
Water can flow from both directions. There are no check valves. Water is going somewhere. Either not all the air was out or you are boiling over or you have a leak or worst case you have a blown head gasket.
That makes sence, I'm thinking NOW it maybe the water pump, doesn't seem to be pumping like it should when I hold the upper rad hose, I do have a antifreeze smell after driving it and I wipe down everything and drove it, when I returned the weep hole in the bottom of the pump had a trace of fluid out of it- t-stat,waterpump,2 chamber radiator is in the works and pray its not the head gasket thanks to all your help guys
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