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11-09-2002, 10:02 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Atlanta Area, USA
Posts: 42
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What am I doing wrong?????
I just replaced my thermostat to a 180 degree, and I am having trouble with the coolant. I'm refilling the radiator (I completely drained the system to install the thermostat), but I can only put 8 quarts total in (1/2 water, 1/2 anti-freeze). The capacity is 14.1, and I realize that some remains in the engine, but I should be able to put about 12 total in. I let the engine run with the heater on for about 10 minutes, and the level in the radiator never dropped, so I can't put any more fluid in.
Am I missing something here? Any assistance will be greatly appreciated......Thanks in advance! Mike |
11-09-2002, 11:54 PM | #2 |
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Location: Moline Il
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You need to let it run long enough to let the thermostat open up. Leaving the heater running will act as another radiator and keep the coolant cool.
Andy
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88 coupe 91 LX NMRA Pure Street 5120 |
11-10-2002, 12:20 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Portland Oregon
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Fill it as far as you can on the radiator, then start her up and let her idle until the engine reaches operating temp. Then shut her down, watch the reservoir to see if a bunch of steam comes out as she cools a bit, then fill the resevoir to the very top. Next morning she should have sucked in most of the resevoir. Just pull the cap, fill it, set the resevoir at normal and drive another day.
You may need to refill the resevoir one more time as more air is expelled by the engine. On my motor, I have an air vent plug that I use to fill the engine cooling passages to full. Then I just pull it the next day when it is cool and re-top the coolant. This gets all the steam out of the engine. Hope this helps.
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1966 Customized for daily street and highway domination. 358 Windsor running 425 HP C-4 Auto and 3.25 Posi |
11-10-2002, 12:52 AM | #4 |
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Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA
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I started drilling a VERRY small hole in the flange area of my thermostats for this very thing. It allows the air to "burp" out the top and cuts a lot of fill time.
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1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer. |
11-10-2002, 01:29 AM | #5 |
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Location: Fall River, MA
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so why are you using a 50/50 mix anyway?
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'02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford! |
11-10-2002, 01:55 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Portland Oregon
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I think a 30/70 mix is good for warm weather, 40/60 is good for cold climates and 50/50 is good for the North Pole.
I am going to experiment with redline 15% coolant and 85% water next week. They claim it will reduce temperatures by 10-20 degrees. HA we will see!
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1966 Customized for daily street and highway domination. 358 Windsor running 425 HP C-4 Auto and 3.25 Posi |
11-10-2002, 09:59 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Atlanta Area, USA
Posts: 42
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50/50 mix
Thanks for the feedback...I'm going to reduce the mix to 30/70 and since it has been overnight, I'm going to check the level again, and then get it to running temp again, and re-check.
I'll post again with the results. Thanks again Mike. |
11-10-2002, 10:15 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Atlanta Area, USA
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aluminum catch can
I forgot to mention that the aluminum catch can does not have any venting at all that I can see. Would drilling a small hole in the top of the resevoir help? It seems to make sense, so that the air can vent off.
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11-10-2002, 11:02 AM | #9 | |
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Location: Ventura, California
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Quote:
Take care, ~Chris
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11-10-2002, 02:05 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA
Posts: 780
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Actually, the Ford t-stats gave me the idea. Ford house=58 miles away, Autozone=12 miles away.
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1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer. |
11-10-2002, 08:00 PM | #11 | |
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Ventura, California
Posts: 8,981
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Quote:
Take care, ~Chris
__________________
Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local
RED & WHITE! |
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