are you suspending it in the boiling water or letting it sit on the bottom of the pan?

 

You may be on to something. I followed directions from this post and nothing changed: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...nt-system.html

Does those steps sound right? What is the best way to get these air pockets out?

No, I have not flushed the system. I figured I flushed the system when I drained the radiator and did all the work. I did all the work you described all at the same time (no gears though). The cooling system worked wonderful before that; never a problem until I did this work. Again, it is not running totally hot all the way pegged out, just to around 230-240.

 

Pretty close, the only thing I would add to that would be park the truck at as SEVERE an angle as your butt will tolerate.... (pucker factor....) with the passenger front being the highest point. If you have a spot nearby that will allow this, just drive there with the radiator cap loose, but, not off...... DO NOT OPEN THE RADIATOR WHEN HOT. You really won't like the results..... If it is far enough away that you want to leave the cap sealed, let the engine cool so there is no longer pressure in the upper radiator hose before opening up the system.

You might have to let it run for 15 to 30 minutes to get the bulk of the air out, and even at that, you might have to repeat the process in a day or so.

 

Before you take it to the shop, try burping the system again. I would bet money on an air pocket.

 

Thanks for that info. My goodness, what you have to do just to get some air out. It must really be in there good. I will give this try.

I don't know if I quite understand one thing you when you said, "If it is far enough away that you want to leave the cap sealed, let the engine cool so there is no longer pressure in the upper radiator hose before opening up the system." Do you mean when the engine has cooled down enough, I take the cap completely off? Then what? What do you mean by "if it is far enough away?"

 

When you drive, the engine heats the coolant. (as you noticed. ) Applying heat to a fluid in a closed system raises pressure. Your radiator cap limits that pressure to approximately 16PSI.

Without the cap in place, the coolant will expand instead. And quite possibly make a serious mess. (not to mention you have to replace it.....)

So, if it is close, and the engine won't get real hot. Just leave it loose.

If it is several miles away, don't do that. You will dump coolant. And the closed system will be under pressure. If you relieve that pressure while the engine is still hot..... (upper radiator hose nice and hard...) Two things happen.. First, if the coolant is hot enough, now that it is no longer under pressure..... it boils........ second thing that happens is, it expands....... RAPIDLY. So, you get a geyser of extremely hot, possibly boiling coolant blowing out everywhere, including on YOU. A VERY unpleasant experience. (you won't be using that hand for a few weeks... and skin grafts might also be in your future.....)

 

Wouldn't this air pocket be there when running the truck without the thermostat (which I did and it ran cool), or does the air pocket just show up with the stat in?

 

Okay; here is what I'm going to do and you tell me if this is right: There is a place in my yard that is a pretty steep angle. I'm going to park there so as to have the front passenger side up in the air and let it run 15 to 30 minutes and see what happens. Also, I will loosen the cap just a bit but not all the way off while running the engine. After it has run for that time, I will then let it cool down, then take the cap off, and then do what? Let me know where I'm going wrong on these steps. Also, if the air pockets are being removed, then I should see the temp. start coming down. When should I give up?

 

If you can do it in your yard....... take the cap completely off, park the truck at the rude angle, and let it run. You can watch the level in the radiator, sorta.... and see if you get any air out.

Keep in mind, the level will go UP some as the thermostat begins to open. Then it will suck it back down. You don't really see much other movement, but, if you put your hand on the upper radiator hose, near the radiator, it will get HOT when the thermostat is open.

 

alright; here it goes. wish me luck. I will update in 30 minutes or so.