pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

it's not an LS1, but i thought i would ask and see....

i pulled my stock thermostat on my 2000 firebird 3.8L v6 (195*) and put in a new 180* thermostat. I adjusted the fans using the hypertech power programmer since i have one (usually just used to read codes). I even did a coolant flush service.

Before, my temp would always be a needle-width below the 210* mark on the gauge. After the swap, fan tweak, and flush....it still reads the same. Is this right? anyone else do this and experience something different?

I know going from a 195 to a 180 isn't a huge difference, but i expected the needle to be at least a LITTLE lower. it's spot on where it was before.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

This section is for all Firebirds-V8 or V6 are all welcome.

Although the factory gauge is notoriously inaccurate, it still should read at a lower point-if in fact your engine is running cooler.

How many miles on this car? Original water pump? Did you properly and fully bleed the system?

pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

it's got about 95k miles and i think it's the original water pump.

got home a little while ago (from getting the flush) and decided to let it cool down and top it off with water.
while doing so, i double checked the resevoir (passenger side coolant thing) and after unscrewing the cap and looking at the stick...it's still full of brown gunk. it looks like someone took a big duece in the resevoir.
I also noticed that the bleeder valve on the thermostat housing (to bleed any air in the system) wasn't touched. I got it back up to temp, and slightly unscrewed it....nothing. a little more....nothing. i couldn't get a single drop of fluid to come out, even after taking the screw completely out.

what's going on??!!
is this normal??

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

Who did this coolant flush service? If done correctly, even what's in the overflow bottle should be fresh.

pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

a local shop did it.
the overflow bottle is chock full of crap.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

You know what to do here, right?

pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

i'm making a phone call in the morning, that's for sure!

i think someone mixed the dexcool with regular coolant, which made it all brown and crappy. i was hoping it would all be cleaned out.

apparently that didn't happen.

i'm also worried about it not being able to bleed. any ideas?

when the new thermostat was put in, not a drop came out of the housing.

lsxformie

I put the 160* in my v6 with the hypertech and it runs about 170, and at night even cooler. I had a rad. leak one time and I went the the autoparts store and bought a bottle of stop leak...........BIGGEST mistake of my life. That 8$ bottle of **** caused me to have to replace the heatercore, rad, and water pump. But I did notice a difference with the 160*

pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

well, i did another flush at the shop today. got some of the gunk out, but i'm sure there's more in there. they filled the overflow bottle with water then pumped it out. it would drain clear, but there was still crud on the cap (stick) indicator thingy (i can't think of what it's called).

they thought that someone might have put a sealer in there and left it.

i'm going to try and bleed it and take another look at the thermostat and see if there's anything clogging it. will keep you updated.

pathology knight

iTrader: (2)

checked the thermostat and i was happy to see fluid in there. got the system to bleed a little...which is better than nothing. i didn't see anything clogging the system, but there is still gunk in there, but i'll live with it for now.

i'm assuming the new thermostat is working, but it would have been nice to see a little change in the gauge, know what i mean?