OK so I'm leaning towards an "obstructed" heater core. I talked to my nephew and he asked me to feel the heater core hoses and one is so hot that I can hardly hold it for more than about 30 seconds (the bottom one) and the the other one (top one) is barely warm at all.

So my question: Is this a plugged a heater core? Or could I have an air pocket in it?

 

OK so I bled the system and now the radiator cap gets so hot I can barely keep my hand on it. So I have "pressure" once again in the system. Now my heat however is a little better but still not as hot as it should be.

I have noticed that the left (driver side) of the dash vent is cooler than the right (passenger side) of the dash vent? In other words there is hot air for the most part coming from the dash vent on the passenger side when I hold my hand over it but cool air coming from the left side of the dash vent as I move my hand toward that side of it. Does this help further diagnose anything?

I think I had an air pocket AND a partially clogged heater core? Or is the air pocket still there?

 

I had a issue similar on my old 03 SS. I had Luke warm heat at best. Couldn't find any leaks of coolant. Turned out the heater core was stopped up or had an air pocket trapped in it.
As you I could feel both heater core hoses, one was hot the other was barely warm.
What I did was turn engine off of course, took both heater core hoses loose and flushed out the core with a water hose for a minute. Until I got just plain ol clear water out. Hooked the hoses back up, start car and dam heat would make you sweat your ***** off.

 

I'm certainly no expert, just your average shade-tree mechanic, but it does still seem odd that you're losing a fluid level in this closed system. I didn't see anything in this thread about your heater valve. I replaced the heater valve on my 80 last month because I noticed my levels were dropping over time. It wasn't so fast that I saw any puddles or could smell the leak like you would think. Seems like I've changed that eater valve 3 times or so over the 31 years I've had her. Just a thought. Good luck!

 

Thanks guys I think the air pocket was actually leading to my "loss" of coolant (if that is possible) or the fact that I had no "pressure" in the system. I'm going to have my nephew flush out the heater core on Tuesday after work when he fixes my ABS wiring on the driver side.

I'll post back if it works....I hope it does. LOL Its too damn cold to have luke warm heat.

 

OK my nephew said to pick up a gallon of coolant for the flush later. I don't want to go with Dexcrap so will anything work? I mean whats the "green" stuff I see mentioned on here? I picked up a jug of "green" coolant a while ago that was 50/50 from Autozone that said "all makes and models" I assume this same brand will work again? I will get the full strength this time around.

Thanks guys.

 

***SOLVED***

Heater core flush and now like Aerocoupe86 says I'm sweating my ***** off. LOL

Thanks guys for all the tips/advice.

 

Congrats!!!

 

We all learn from these success stories. Good for you!

 

lol told ya, now youll be like dam, its hot in here