Cooling Correctly?

[Scott R]

Ok guys I replaced my radiator tonight, and my thermostat. Thanks to Obin who suggested that I just pry the old thermostat out, that worked like a champ! Anyway, I did my blest to bleed the system and I hope I did it right. So here is what happened: I now run just a tad warmer, but I never break the half point ever, just right at it. So I turned the A/C on and really ran it hard, 1.9 on the boost meter. And it went up a bit, but not all the way to the 3/4 mark. So is this normal? With my old radiator it would always sit at 1/4 but would overheat on the highway?!? Also who has the best bleeding procedure? I could really use it. Sorry for the lenghty post.

[AFJuvat]

Sounds like you got everything correct.

Bleeding: you want to make sure your heat is on when you bleed - air can get trapped in the heater core.

What has also worked well for me in the past is squeezing the upper radiator to expansion tank hose. This forms a back pressure wave in the system, knocking any stubborn air pockets free.

bleed it to the best of your ability, then bleed it again a day or so later.

It sounds like you are good with the readings you are reporting, but by all means do it again if you aren't 100% sure.

AFJuvat

[divezic]

I use the mouth-to-mouth method.

First I fill up the system manually as much as possible. Take the bleed screw out and use a small hose to top off the coolant. Reinstall the screw.

I saw the shop use a reservoir cap with a pressure pump attached to it to pressurize the system. So I figure if I crack the bleed valve a little and blow hard into the reservoir I'm doing the same thing. It sounds silly but it works. When only fluid comes out of the bleed screw, screw the valve down. I found I need to do this once or twice after I run the engine and work the trapped bubbles to the top of the system.

Warning!!!! Most coolants are toxic so do not ingest it using this method. AND do not do this while the engine is warm. Nothing like a boiling hot cup of Ethylene Glycol easing down your throat.

Let me make a pitch for our furry friends at this time. Coolant is sweet and animals will drink it. Please do not let old coolant sit in an open container. It will destroy the animal's kidneys and cause a long painful death.

[Scott R]

Actually I have a coolant perssure tester just like the one you just wrote about. I did not think to use that, I may have to try that.

BTW, do you have the only 944 in Brunswick? I am a former Mt Vernon Resident and never even saw a 944 until I moved out west.

[divezic]

Actually, I've seen 1 other 944 N/A, a 944 turbo and a friend of mine has a very nice 924 S. There are a couple of 911's running around and 2 914's. I see a 928 parked in front of the local foreign car garage in town. I think most of those are Navy influence in the town. Most of the Maine plates are attached to trucks.

[Scott R]

Thats geat! I guess I lived too far inland to see any of that. All we had were pictures from magazines.

[divezic]

Excellence or Playboy?

[Scott R]

Well, since you asked... Both! Anyway, thanks toeveryone on this post. I have replaced the radiator, thermostat, temp sending unit, and the coolant tank cap. And guess what? It works great now? Sits just a tad above 1/4 even with the A/C on under load! So thanks everyone.

[todwic]

anitfreez is toxic. i know a guy that boght tins of sardines and dumped the juice out and fills it up with antifreez. Panorama guy Bill recoments you raise the front end of the car at least a foot and then bleed it.

[Scott R]

What I did was to put a coolant pressure tester on the coolant tank cap and pumped it up to 8psi. That bleed it real quick.