Thermostat may not be opening after antifreeze flush and fill
06-10-2011, 09:12 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Thermostat may not be opening after antifreeze flush and fill
As a result of the coolant leak I have replaced the hose and completed the antifreeze flush/fill cycle. Car is up to operating temperature coolant needle is between the 8 and 0 holding steady for 10 minutes. My concern is the thermostat has not opened. I’m basing this assumption on that fact that the coolant hoses in the front wheel wells are not warm.
Shouldn’t the hoses be warm if the thermostat has opened and the operating temperature has stabilized.
Tips and thoughts welcome....correction; Tips and thoughs needed
Charles
Shouldn’t the hoses be warm if the thermostat has opened and the operating temperature has stabilized.
Tips and thoughts welcome....correction; Tips and thoughs needed
Charles
06-10-2011, 10:23 PM
#3
Race Director
There is a metal clip on top of the coolant tank(not the coolant cap), black in color...lift the clip and leave it like that for a couple of days to bleed out any air.
06-10-2011, 10:27 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
I think he bought the air lift, assuming he used it properly...
You can place the t-stat in a boiling pot of water trick (monitor temp w/oven thermo above 188 ish it should open), which of course sucks because you have to drain the system again.
At about $40 it's cheap insurance to replace if you have all the coolant out...
You can place the t-stat in a boiling pot of water trick (monitor temp w/oven thermo above 188 ish it should open), which of course sucks because you have to drain the system again.
At about $40 it's cheap insurance to replace if you have all the coolant out...
06-10-2011, 10:39 PM
#6
Pro
Thread Starter
Putting the airlift back on to pull a vaccum and see if this removes any additional air in the system. The airlift needle just bounces around now and doesnt go past 15. Going to let it run longer to see if it improves.
Is there any risk to pulling a vaccum with the cooling system full?
Is there any risk to pulling a vaccum with the cooling system full?
06-10-2011, 10:49 PM
#7
Three Wheelin'
IF you drew in that much coolant, since it holds 6 gallons give or take, you are probably full.
It will probably spew out coolant if you vacuum with a full system, but it is safe.
If you read the manual best only to use when it is empty.
It's safe to raise the bleeder and warm up to temp then blip it a few times above 5krpm. This will ensure no air, but doubt you have any with the uview.
If you want to see it get hot, just warm up the car then let it idle in the sun. It will get hotter than 180.
But safest thing if you suspect the tstat is to drain just the case, remove the tstat, boil it on your stove in a pot to see it open when it should, if it does, reinstall it and refill with airlift. Not a lot of time to do this.
Then you can go to sleep at night and not worry about your tstat.
It will probably spew out coolant if you vacuum with a full system, but it is safe.
If you read the manual best only to use when it is empty.
It's safe to raise the bleeder and warm up to temp then blip it a few times above 5krpm. This will ensure no air, but doubt you have any with the uview.
If you want to see it get hot, just warm up the car then let it idle in the sun. It will get hotter than 180.
But safest thing if you suspect the tstat is to drain just the case, remove the tstat, boil it on your stove in a pot to see it open when it should, if it does, reinstall it and refill with airlift. Not a lot of time to do this.
Then you can go to sleep at night and not worry about your tstat.
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06-10-2011, 11:02 PM
#8
Pro
Thread Starter
The airlift worked perfectly on an empty system and pulled in almost 6 gallons. Now that the system is full it spit out about 2 gallon. Nothing like a see/saw. Trying to put the gallon back in put it is stopping before taking in the 2 gallons. So, I'm going to button it up and take it around the block with the bleeder valve open.
06-10-2011, 11:32 PM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Honestly, I would drain the system and fill it again instead of trying to refill a full system, since it is just working against itself and spewing out coolant. The uview manual specifically says to do it with an empty system.
The above being said, as long as your out = in figures line up. Don't worry and take her for a spin.
Keep a watchful eye on the coolant level (be **** about it for the first few drives and then keep an eye on it for a week or so).
The above being said, as long as your out = in figures line up. Don't worry and take her for a spin.
Keep a watchful eye on the coolant level (be **** about it for the first few drives and then keep an eye on it for a week or so).
Last edited by logray; 06-11-2011 at 12:36 AM.
06-11-2011, 09:56 AM
#10
Pro
Thread Starter
Good advice and point taken. Heading out to the garage now to drain and fill. I am planning to attend the autocross tomorrow as a spectator and I really don't want to drive my Jeep there.
Thanks to everyone that has helped on this issue. By far the best damn board I've every had the pleasure of being associated with.
Charles
-Kazual99
Thanks to everyone that has helped on this issue. By far the best damn board I've every had the pleasure of being associated with.
Charles
-Kazual99
06-11-2011, 11:46 AM
#11
Three Wheelin'
Good decision and good work. Now you'll be an expert at this. And think of how clean your coolant will be.
Did you end up removing the tstat so you can boil it and see if it opens at 188 F?
Don't worry if you can't get that last half gallon or so out, there are about a billion different places for it to hide in the system.
Did you end up removing the tstat so you can boil it and see if it opens at 188 F?
Don't worry if you can't get that last half gallon or so out, there are about a billion different places for it to hide in the system.
06-11-2011, 05:19 PM
#12
Pro
Thread Starter
Thermostat seems okay after a short and very local to the house drive. 98 degrees today in Charlotte and the temp is holding steady.
Funny thing....coming back from a short trip to the parts store I shifted at redline to help get the air out of the system and apparently there was a lot of air!!!! The coolant tank is now somewhat low and the little red light on the temp gauge is flashing...so I'm at Starbucks waiting for the engine to cool so I can top off the coolant.
Funny thing....coming back from a short trip to the parts store I shifted at redline to help get the air out of the system and apparently there was a lot of air!!!! The coolant tank is now somewhat low and the little red light on the temp gauge is flashing...so I'm at Starbucks waiting for the engine to cool so I can top off the coolant.
