heat pockets?

~The Jester~ · 05-18-2005, 08:53 PM

What do you mean by heat pockets Ryan? Do you mean air pockets in the cooling system? IF this is the case, read below.

With the newer cars having the radiators so low, this has become a MAJOR issue because the radiator cap is no longer the highest place in the cooling system, which is where the air wants to go. Some manufacturers (Ford, Chebby, etc) even started putting in little air bleeds into the cooling systems. Having figured out the newer cars, I adapted what I've learned to the older cars as well.

Basically what ya do pal, is this. Park the car somewhere you don't mind making a mess. Fill the cooling system. Leave the cap OFF. Start the car. IDLE, no throttle at all. Let the system warm up. It'll puke/suck for a bit until the thermostat opens, you'll know when the happens, the coolant level DROPS all of a sudden. Let the car idle for a few more minutes, and slowly add a mixture of antifreeze and HOT, I reiterate, HOT water. until full. Let the system circulate the new mixture for a few minutes, and make sure it's done "burping" out the air bubbles. A bit of steam from the radiator is a good indicator that she's up to temp and circulating. Once you're sure the system is stable, throw the cap back on. Then shut the engine off. Let the engine cool off. Since we put the cap on with hot fluid, and it has since cooled, we created a vacuum of sorts. Once the engine is cool (over night if you have the time) crack the cap off slowly. One of 2 things will happen. It'll puke some more, but more than likely it'll pull some air back into the system. When this happens, just top her off, and you should be good to go.

Snap On actually makes a funnel system for this. It mounts on the radiator cap, and you fill the funnel half full. Start the engine, let her warm up. What the funnel does is lets the engine burp out the air, but when it "sucks", all it gets is more coolant. This is alot faster, but it'll work the way I described above.

Just use common sense, and don't let the cooling system get TOO low at any time, and you'll be fine.

Now, if this ISN'T what you were talking about, we're both screwed. LOL

rwhite65 · 05-18-2005, 10:05 PM

hahaha, thanks Jester....I was referring to the air being in the system....when I used the wrong term of "heat pockets". Never really had this problem, not sure I am even having this problem, but want to explore the possibilities.

88 workcar, as for removing all the air from the system....I would have to say no. I am not sure how to do that...other then what Jester described...and I am unsure how to even know I have air in the system for sure.
Ryan

~The Jester~ · 05-18-2005, 10:18 PM

Almost no heat (if your heater core is hooked up) STOOPID stuff with the temp gauge, ie sometime hot, sometime cold, bouncing around, etc etc. Overheating for no reason, not heating up the next time for no reason. With me bro?

Another thing to keep in mind is the car's attitude towards coolant. I had a '79 F150 (351M) that would run forever with the coolant about 1.5" from the top. Fill it up, it'd puke it out, right down to that level. Found out, if it's happy there, then leave it alone. Just like women. HA! No, not true. Women are pink on the inside, and bitchy on the outside.

ANYWAYS, why do you have the fan coming on at 70*? Engines need SOME heat in them, especially if you have any "important" parts made of aluminum. 180*-200* is perfectally fine operating temperature. I'd set that fan to kick on around 120* or so. Is that your ONLY cooling fan, or is this an auxillary fan?

rwhite65 · 05-19-2005, 02:22 AM

I got it set to come on around 170* or so. I really dont like it running anything over 190. Since it is not all that hot yet, I am just trying to figure out what it's major malfunction is right now. Plus, I have always been told fords (carbed) perform better when they are cooler.

The car has no power steering, no air, and only has a mild 306 to worry about cooling. The tranny is cooled first by the rad., then by the aux cooler, but my tranny usually runs pretty cool.

This is my only fan, but that big Taurus fan covers the entire radiator surface (almost) of that older style radiator.
Ryan

05-18-2005, 08:53 PM	#1
~The Jester~ Rat Killer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cold ass Ohio Posts: 1,143	Re: heat pockets? What do you mean by heat pockets Ryan? Do you mean air pockets in the cooling system? IF this is the case, read below. With the newer cars having the radiators so low, this has become a MAJOR issue because the radiator cap is no longer the highest place in the cooling system, which is where the air wants to go. Some manufacturers (Ford, Chebby, etc) even started putting in little air bleeds into the cooling systems. Having figured out the newer cars, I adapted what I've learned to the older cars as well. Basically what ya do pal, is this. Park the car somewhere you don't mind making a mess. Fill the cooling system. Leave the cap OFF. Start the car. IDLE, no throttle at all. Let the system warm up. It'll puke/suck for a bit until the thermostat opens, you'll know when the happens, the coolant level DROPS all of a sudden. Let the car idle for a few more minutes, and slowly add a mixture of antifreeze and HOT, I reiterate, HOT water. until full. Let the system circulate the new mixture for a few minutes, and make sure it's done "burping" out the air bubbles. A bit of steam from the radiator is a good indicator that she's up to temp and circulating. Once you're sure the system is stable, throw the cap back on. Then shut the engine off. Let the engine cool off. Since we put the cap on with hot fluid, and it has since cooled, we created a vacuum of sorts. Once the engine is cool (over night if you have the time) crack the cap off slowly. One of 2 things will happen. It'll puke some more, but more than likely it'll pull some air back into the system. When this happens, just top her off, and you should be good to go. Snap On actually makes a funnel system for this. It mounts on the radiator cap, and you fill the funnel half full. Start the engine, let her warm up. What the funnel does is lets the engine burp out the air, but when it "sucks", all it gets is more coolant. This is alot faster, but it'll work the way I described above. Just use common sense, and don't let the cooling system get TOO low at any time, and you'll be fine. Now, if this ISN'T what you were talking about, we're both screwed. LOL __________________ d-Con Racing "Nothing fancy, just 347 inches of RAT POISON!" MICE need not apply.....

05-18-2005, 10:05 PM	#2
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Re: heat pockets? hahaha, thanks Jester....I was referring to the air being in the system....when I used the wrong term of "heat pockets". Never really had this problem, not sure I am even having this problem, but want to explore the possibilities. 88 workcar, as for removing all the air from the system....I would have to say no. I am not sure how to do that...other then what Jester described...and I am unsure how to even know I have air in the system for sure. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

05-18-2005, 10:18 PM	#3
~The Jester~ Rat Killer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cold ass Ohio Posts: 1,143	Re: heat pockets? Almost no heat (if your heater core is hooked up) STOOPID stuff with the temp gauge, ie sometime hot, sometime cold, bouncing around, etc etc. Overheating for no reason, not heating up the next time for no reason. With me bro? Another thing to keep in mind is the car's attitude towards coolant. I had a '79 F150 (351M) that would run forever with the coolant about 1.5" from the top. Fill it up, it'd puke it out, right down to that level. Found out, if it's happy there, then leave it alone. Just like women. HA! No, not true. Women are pink on the inside, and bitchy on the outside. ANYWAYS, why do you have the fan coming on at 70? Engines need SOME heat in them, especially if you have any "important" parts made of aluminum. 180-200* is perfectally fine operating temperature. I'd set that fan to kick on around 120* or so. Is that your ONLY cooling fan, or is this an auxillary fan? __________________ d-Con Racing "Nothing fancy, just 347 inches of RAT POISON!" MICE need not apply.....

05-19-2005, 02:22 AM	#4
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Re: heat pockets? I got it set to come on around 170* or so. I really dont like it running anything over 190. Since it is not all that hot yet, I am just trying to figure out what it's major malfunction is right now. Plus, I have always been told fords (carbed) perform better when they are cooler. The car has no power steering, no air, and only has a mild 306 to worry about cooling. The tranny is cooled first by the rad., then by the aux cooler, but my tranny usually runs pretty cool. This is my only fan, but that big Taurus fan covers the entire radiator surface (almost) of that older style radiator. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

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