air locked

[84GNTTYPE]

After trying several things with my heating system, I am convinced that it is air locked.

So what is the best way to get the air out of the cooling system?

I'd appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks!

 

[big b]

the way i got the air out was by starting up with the radiator cap off till it runs out several times shuting off filling up over and over. you will tell when you get the air out after putting the cap on, taking a drive and the temp gague acts normal. be careful with the hot coolant. lol, darrell

 

[84GNTTYPE]

Are there any other suggestions or is this my best bet for getting the air out?

Thanks!

 

[Turbo Brian]

I don't know exactly what you mean by air locked, but on cars that I have owned, when the temperature drifted with RPM, and couldn't be controlled, that was usually an indication that combustion gasses were present in the cooling system. Usually it would mean a bad head gasket that allowed hot combustion air into the cooling system and was picked up by the temp gauge sender.

 

[84GNTTYPE]

Anytime you open the cooling system (change a hose, thermostat, heater core etc) you run the risk of trapping air in the cooling system.

Becaue the heater core is the highest point in our cooling systems, if you have an air pocket it will usually go as far as the heater core and stop there. Then you end up with no heat.

This what I DO know. What I don't know is how to get that air out of the cooling system.

Thanks!

 

[steve hughes]

Take the thermostat out and drill an 1/8" hole in it. That will keep it from getting an air lock.

 

[TurboDave]

Originally posted by 84GNTTYPE
Anytime you open the cooling system (change a hose, thermostat, heater core etc) you run the risk of trapping air in the cooling system.

Becaue the heater core is the highest point in our cooling systems, if you have an air pocket it will usually go as far as the heater core and stop there. Then you end up with no heat.

This what I DO know. What I don't know is how to get that air out of the cooling system.

Thanks!

I must be the luckiest SOB in the world then. I've heard of such a thing, but in my 40 years of driving and car ownership I've never had such a thing happen. And my 86 has never suffered this malady while I've had it over the last 16 years. Oh, and yes the system has been open many times. The coolant gets recycled every spring to pure water, then back to coolant in the fall.

 

[big b]

i had not heard of this in 40 years of driving either but my son told me i did it by trying to change coolant last year. afther i changed coolant the temp. would go way up then down, which he said was a air lock. also he showed me that you could pound on the bottom of the gas tank to start up a faulty pump that had stopped. i saw this happen 3 times in the last 2 years with different vehicles. i guess us old dogs can learn new tricks. i suspect the air might leave the coolant system afther time but i did not like the temp going up that high. darrell