HOW TO: bleed the radiator system, i dont know how to bleed radiator Options

[azn87]

hey was up peeps. i need to replace my radiator because its cracked. my dad said i have to bleed it before it over heats. can someone help me

[Galcobar]

If your radiator is cracked, you don't want to reduce the amount of coolant in it -- that's the whole problem with a leak, actually.

Are you asking about how to replace it? Your request really doesn't communicate enough information to be useful.

[azian_advanced]

when he means to bleed it, it means to get rid of the air bubbles in the system...
anyway, if you have a crack you should go buy a radiator first.. or if it's a hairline crack and can't afford a new one now, at least fix the crack before bleeding cuz as it leaks, air will just go back in the cooling system.

[azn87]

what i wanted to know if after i replace the radiator. i need to bleed the radiator so it doesnt over heat

[trdproven]

From the toyota manual it does not say to bleed it. You just filler up with the cap open let the car run and fill in more if necessary accordingly.

[azian_advanced]

if you get a new radiator, i would suggest you getting a new thermostat as well. stick with OEM. i had issues with those crappy aftermarket equivalents..
you may as well get a bottle of toyota coolant while you're at it.
and make sure the little nipple hole on the thermostat is facing up during the install, it acts as a little hole to let air out.

bleeding isn't really that difficult. i normally use a bleeder funnel but you can do it the old fashioned way. so after you have installed the new rad and put in new fluid in:

-jack up the front by a few inches just to make sure the radiator cap is the highest point of the cooling system.
-warm up the engine until it reaches normal running temp. (this allows the coolant to heat and expand in volume)
-make sure the overflow bottle is about 1/2 full.
-repeatedly squeeze the radiator lines to instantaneously increase fluid pressure and force air towards the top of the radiator. this should push most of the air out.
-open the radiator cap (coolant should be warmish hot but try not to touch the coolant)
-check to see if it needs filling, if so, top it off.
-check to see if the overflow reservoir has about 1/2 to 3/4 of fluid in it. if not fill it up to 3/4.
-give the engine a few bursts of revs to increase fluid flow and get rid of any remaining air locks. this barely helps much but every little counts?..
-once the radiator is topped off to the max, close the radiator cap and close the overflow reservoir cap.
-turn off the engine and let everything cool until it reaches ambient temp. as it cools the coolant shrinks in volume and coolant is pulled from the overflow reservoir into the radiator. make sure the reservoir doesn't go dry. it should have roughly about 1/4 tank of coolant once the engine is cooled off entirely.

everyone has their own ways... this is just my 'general' way in doing it.


This post has been edited by azian_advanced: Sep 10, 2008 - 1:40 AM