open the bleeder, and it won't come out until the thermostat opens, could take up to 15 minutes depending on how cold it is outside.

If you can't bleed air out of the system, there is a bigger problem.

 

Ok so I'm gonna go ahead and bleed it a little bit. Any suggestions on how I can clean it afterwards? Some engines don't like being sprayed with water.

 

Engine should be fine being sprayed as long as you cover necessary parts, air filter, coil packs, alternator.

I prefer to slowly hand wash mine with Simple Green. Takes a long time but worth it.

 

Thanks! I'll definitely have to wash it off. I got a small oil leak from my valve cover gasket that is greasing up the engine as it is!

 

I've used the pressure washer at the car wash if I had a need for some serious water based cleaning (that and a can of engine degreaser).

 

So still running hot. I'm wondering if I need to replace the radiator? I know I have pressure cause my cooling lines have pressure in them after the thermostat opens up! This is starting to get to me!!

What symptoms would I have if the radiator was bad? Is there a way to find out without taking it to a shop?

 

What is the most recent thing you have tried? Just bleeding the air out?

I go back to my earlier statement that I would flush the cooling system and change your T-stat (if the T-stat is really old and opening too slow, that can cause hot readings, if the coolant has not been flushed in a couple of years, it's due, it's probably getting sludgy and having poor circulation in the system).

When the car is running and the temp guage is going higher then it should, do you have good heat coming out of the blower inside the car or is it the ambient outside temp??

Also, when you open the bleeder do you get coolant flowing immediately or do you get air/steam coming out for a little bit?

Only two conditions I know of exist for a bad radiator, 1 it's leaking, 2 it's clogged. Sometimes a clog can be resolved with a coolant flush.

 

So here is what I got.

I have changed the thermostat and radiator cap.
Fluids are full.
I have plenty of heat coming out of my vents, so I know the pump has to be good.
I opened up the bleeder valve and fluids came out, no air.

I talked to a guy at a shop today and he says it could just be a bad radiator. He suggested flushing the radiator and see what happens. I guess I'll find out when I start flushing it. I'm hoping that its just gunked up, and flushing it will fix it. If not I guess it's time for a new radiator.

 

Alright, so I flushed the entire system backwards and forwards for good measure. Still running hot! I think its time for a new radiator.

The one thing that still has me puzzled is the fans don't kick on until it gets damn near to the red line! But if I run the heat or air they do? Also, regardless if the fans are on or not it never gets even close to half way on the gauge or lower, it stays between half and red all the time.

 

Did you get fluid flowing through the radiator when you flushed the system? If fluid is flowing through it, you dont need a new radiator.