tpooleATL

Discovered a crack in the plastic edge of my radiator last week and ordered a factory style replacement radiator off of Summit. Built just like the stock one. After installing the new one, I had my dad put water in the radiator while I went inside to grab my wallet and after filling it up I took it around the block a few times, temp gauge stayed just below 210 like normal. When I pulled in the driveway, I got out leaving the engine running to look under and make sure there weren't any leaks from the hoses and literally 10 seconds after not seeing anything, water starts pouring from the passenger side. Water was boiling out of the coolant resivor. My question is, is this from maybe putting too much water in the radiator, or do I have a problem? I can't tell you how much was put in since I did not do it myself.

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

is your radiator cap seated properly? it may be letting air into the system causing a boil over.

riceburnerZ28

iTrader: (20)

It could be the wrong radiator cap, or you added more water than antifreeze.

loyolacub68

iTrader: (16)

You mentioned asking him to put water in but mentioned nothing about antifreeze. Did he put any in there?

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

did you make sure there was no air in the system? sometime it can be a PITA to get all the air out

tpooleATL

No he didn't put any antifreeze cause I was planning on flushing it all out once I got back, and I went and looked at the cap and it is extremely loose. Air could definitely get in just by looking at. The new radiator didn't come with a new cap, Im still using the stock one.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Doesn't matter if you just put straight water in there, it will run just fine like that, especially just going around the block a few times. I know people who run straight water full time and they run fine.

Get a new cap for sure, especially if you got a new radiator. 18 psi cap.....

I use a Stant cap with the pressure relief lever on it......been rock solid for 5+ years. $3.00

OH....and you must fill the radiator up all the way, the system must be 100% topped off, zero space in the radiator. Air being in there is bad.
You should let it idle with the cap off, and wait till you see the coolant start to flow in the filler neck (t-stat has opened). If the level drops down IMMEDIATELY top it off, and put the cap on. Thats how you make sure all the air is out of the system.

It gets a bit colder up where you are in Florida, but down here in South Florida....I've always used a half jug of Dexcool and the rest hose water. Works perfect, my engine runs sick cool......
You might want to use a whole jug because you get much colder in winter than we do.

.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

to help make sure air is out......i disconnect the hose under ......by....the TB.....fill up the rad til water comes out the pipe.......works like a charm

tpooleATL

Ok I'll give that a try, Im about to go flush it out now. Thanks alot.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

While the engine is heating up with the radiator cap OFF...and you are waiting for the t-stat to open to see the coolant start to flow in the filler neck....all you have to do is squeeze the upper radiator hose rapidly about 30-40 times. You can do the lower hose to if you want to.....That will move the air bubble back and forth letting hot coolant touch the t-stat and allow it to open up, It works every single time I do it.

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tpooleATL

Just flushed the whole thing out and it still started boiling out of the resivor, temp gauge remains at 210 however and my fans are NOT coming on. This sucks I have headers and a new exhaust system just sitting in my room and now I have to put up with this...

JaYZeig

iTrader: (11)

just out of curiosity..did you accidentally switch the lines that go from the resevoir to the rad. and the line that comes from the engine crossover pipe to the rad..the resevoir line goes to the top fitting just under the cap, the crossover line goes on the lower fitting..i had them switched (was puttin my ls1 back together in the dark, and in a hurry) switched these 2 hoses and it did the exact same thing as yours is.

riceburnerZ28

iTrader: (20)

^^^thats a good point...I did the same thing when I first got the car and had the same results.

tpooleATL

Jayzeig, you're the man. Thanks bro.

JaYZeig

iTrader: (11)

awesome..glad i can help

99huggerorangeZ

iTrader: (2)

same here

camarozssclone

Check hoses hose off water pump goes on bottom near cap other small hose on top near same size easy mix up

jrpimp00

iTrader: (17)

Threads over 2 years old, hope he got it fixed by now