Thread: Meller's "Last" Hoorah - '62 Fairlane

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Em,
I always drill a small, nominal 1/8" hole in the thermostat disk to let the air bleed out of the engine while filling the system. Without the hole it is too easy to get air trapped at the thermostat housing, and the thermostat won't open until the bi-metal spring is surrounded by coolant. Catch 22, and very frustrating. Pull your stat, drill a hole and then listen as you fill and you'll hear the air bubbling out through the hole. Works like a charm, and provides the added benefit of a very slight flow through the closed stat to get the warm water circulating faster.

Originally Posted by stovens

I've had air in the line before that has caused weird problems with coolant, and heating. Seems strange the thermostat didn't open, do you know what temp the thermostat is set to open? Was the radiator full to the top when you started?

Sorry bout the absence but I had to cook lunch - - - "house work is my full time job - - - screwing up Fairlane's is just partime". Sto, I just installed a 180 degree thermostat - - - wish I'd known about the 1/8" hole that Roger mentioned a couple of months ago.

Originally Posted by randyr

Are you sure the temp gauge is accurate or were you using a thermometer?

Randy, all ll I had to tell was the temp gauge under the dash.

Originally Posted by rspears

Em,
I always drill a small, nominal 1/8" hole in the thermostat disk to let the air bleed out of the engine while filling the system. Without the hole it is too easy to get air trapped at the thermostat housing, and the thermostat won't open until the bi-metal spring is surrounded by coolant. Catch 22, and very frustrating. Pull your stat, drill a hole and then listen as you fill and you'll hear the air bubbling out through the hole. Works like a charm, and provides the added benefit of a very slight flow through the closed stat to get the warm water circulating faster.

Thanks Roger, as I mentioned above, I just finished installing a new 180 thermostat and I guess that "hind sight is really 20/20 but I'll have to address the stat at a later time.

TWO QUESTIONS: First one is, when the upper hose gets warm/hot doesn't that mean that the thermostat is open? Secondly, could it possibly be the radiator cap? The reason I ask is that's about the "only" improvement (using the work loosely) I haven't made to the cooling system, except for a new radiator.

One thing new that I've noticed is that it is puking out the overflow tube more than it has ever done before.

Thanks for your replies, gentlemen.
Em