It has been a while since I posted anything on this forum, I hope this will not deter the members from helping me.

Recently my car overheated, the temp arrow went up 3/4 of a way. Luckily I was near my home and had time to take actions. When I parked with engine running I opened the hood and the expansion bottle was full of hot antifreeze but nothing leaking. Once I shut down the car the antifreeze started to come out from expansion bottle, naturally.

After installing new thermostat (195deg) I noticed that the cars temp gauge is often climbing to the middle of the scale, before it would firmly stay a notch under the middle of the scale. After connecting a scanner I have seen temperature climb to 217F driving on a highway. When idling after highway drive that cars temperature bounces between 207-217 with outside temperature of 80F deg. I don't know what the temperature was in the old set up since I never paid attantion to that.

Is this normal? or should I investigate further... like double check the thermostat rating, radiator cap, air in system.

Actually I can't properly bleed the air out of the system cuz the screw on the thermostat housing is stripped. What was done when installing new thermostat is the car was allowed to go through a couple cycles with radiator cup open.

Thanks, sorry for the long post.

Its a little warm but normal for a hot day. Are your fans turning on and off? IF so them i would say your ok. One thing you can do is take the car to the car wash (manual ones) and use the high pressure gun to spray the Radiator out from under the hood. You will be spraying water from the engine bay to the front of the car. This will clean it out of you have any dirt trapped.

Mine on a hot day at idle will be 198~200 and fluctuate around 210 idling.

Now the fact that your not cooling down during your drive leads me to believe maybe your radiator is clogged or you have poor airflow. Driving down the freeway it should be around the 195 degree therm temp.

Havent seem you post.....Nice to see your still driving a 2GNT.

Thanks 4 reply, Looking at the temp gauge on the dash the car started to run hot only after change of thermostat, so I don't think it's the radiator (I will clean it anyway). The difference is between slightly below the middle of the range (it was like that for the past 4 years) and right in the middle which it regularly reaches now. I am thinking it is ether air trapped or thermostat rated incorrectly.

Can any one suggest how to unscrew the stripped socket cup screw that bleeds air from the cooling system?

BTW Yes I still drive the car, @ least 100 miles a day, recently did a second timing belt, last year I installed heated seats for the winter. I was going to do a write up but have not had the chance.

Originally posted by gramozeka
Can any one suggest how to unscrew the stripped socket cup screw that bleeds air from the cooling system?

Wat? :wary

When the car is completely cooled off, take of the radiator cap and start the engine. Let the car idle with the radiator cap off. Turn the heater on full blast and have a smoke. When the thermostat opens, you'll get some bubbles. Once the bubbles stop, add coolant as needed to bring the level up, then put the cap on and shut the car off.

Done.

Originally posted by DR1665

Originally posted by gramozeka Can any one suggest how to unscrew the stripped socket cup screw that bleeds air from the cooling system?

Wat? :wary When the car is completely cooled off, take of the radiator cap and start the engine. Let the car idle with the radiator cap off. Turn the heater on full blast and have a smoke. When the thermostat opens, you'll get some bubbles. Once the bubbles stop, add coolant as needed to bring the level up, then put the cap on and shut the car off. Done.

I did that and antifreeze started spraying everywhere and now my header has spots all over it lol. As for the screw your best bet is to use a bolt extractor and just get a new screw. If I remeber right its a alan wrench screw, You might be able to use a star bit you may have to tap it in with a hammer but thats what I would try but im not a mechanic lol.

Edit: I mean those little socket star bits by the way.

I drilled a few holes in my thermostat. Seemed to keep from pressure building up behind the thermostat and helps burp the system before the thermostat opens. My ride is boosted though.

Wanted to update everyone.

I found another problem radiator cap seal was shot. I replaced it and now I am waiting for hotter days. The system now has much more pressure, so I am expecting a hose/radiator failure although all hoses look very nice.

Thanks for the input everyone.