Cooling System Assistance Options

[brandon702bmx]

I'm on here a lot lately... seems like I am becoming a nuisance more than anything.

To be fair, I've "researched" other sources to see if I can answer my question properly but none of them really seem to answer it.

Anyhow, I removed the radiator because my car was in an accident. (had to do some repairs to front end) I installed it and filled with coolant...

I've been driving the car recently and noticed that when I come to a stop, the car is leaving puddles of coolant + overheating at some times. At other times... it takes a while to get up to operating temperature. The gauge stays well below the half way mark. I'm talking about 1/4 of the gauge even while driving it for periods of time. I also forgot to mention, it fluctuates as well. It seems like it wants to go to operating temp and then goes right back down.

My research has brought me to this conclusion:
When filling radiator with coolant, jack the front of the car so that it is elevated.
Leave the radiator cap off, place a funnel in the hole and make sure it fits snug, fill to where the coolant is visible at the lowest point of the funnel.
Turn the dial to the hottest setting and put the heater on low.
Allow the car to run, reaching operating temp.
Squeeze rad hoses to assist with removing air.
Add coolant as needed until fluctuating coolant levels stop as its replacing coolant with the air in the system.
Screw cap rad cap on.

Everythings good after that? I'm sure to most this may be common sense but I was unsure of doing this.

Also a speculation since sometimes the car won't reach operating temp, the thermostat is bad and isn't allowing proper circulation since it may be getting stuck?
What should be troubleshooted first?

[Box]

You're on the right track, in addition to what slavie said it could be the radiator has a crack in the tanks from the accident. They like to crack on their own with age, so the accident could've done it in, look across the tanks for signs of weeping or damage. The other possibilities being you didn't get those hoses seated or tightened all the way and they're seeping under pressure. It's possible the thermostat failed all of a sudden, but if the car was fine prior I'd be more inclined towards the aforementioned. Especially since you're saying it's leaving puddles of coolant on the ground. Which some times the water pump will weep once it starts to fail, but again if it was fine prior I'd be more doubtful of it. So long story short; double check the radiator tanks for damage and make sure all your hoses are on properly, and you can test/replace the thermostat then try bleeding again.

[brandon702bmx]

You're on the right track, in addition to what slavie said it could be the radiator has a crack in the tanks from the accident. They like to crack on their own with age, so the accident could've done it in, look across the tanks for signs of weeping or damage. The other possibilities being you didn't get those hoses seated or tightened all the way and they're seeping under pressure. It's possible the thermostat failed all of a sudden, but if the car was fine prior I'd be more inclined towards the aforementioned. Especially since you're saying it's leaving puddles of coolant on the ground. Which some times the water pump will weep once it starts to fail, but again if it was fine prior I'd be more doubtful of it. So long story short; double check the radiator tanks for damage and make sure all your hoses are on properly, and you can test/replace the thermostat then try bleeding again.

This is what I did. I drained the radiator, removed the thermostat housing, boiled some water up to 82C and placed the thermostat in the boiling water. It opened and closed. So, I put a new gasket around it and put it back in the housing with that “jiggle valve” lined up with the notch at the top, bolted it back on, tightened the hose. Jacked the front of the car up pretty high, filled it. It took the whole gallon, didn’t top off, placed a snug tight funnel where the cap is supposed to go, cranked the heater on and ran the car for a good 15-20 minutes, revved it every once in a while, let the fans kick on 2-3 times, capped it off and drove it. It’s not leaving pools of coolant below the reservoir area anymore and no overheats. The day after bought more coolant, topped it off again flat level and made sure the reservoir was filled to the line. I drove it about 2 or 3 miles, stopped and checked it. I see active runoff about underneath the reservoir and minuscule drops on the ground. So I’m getting closer (I really hope) I don’t care if I have to replace the whole system I just don’t wanna hear blown headgasket.