heater core?

[FMOS]

I am going to venture to say its the head gasket. You'll get some heat for a short while until the T stat gets warm enough to open once. I'm not exactly sure how it all works but you'll get a big pressurized slug of air in there and then she's done making heat.

On mine, the gauge actually dropped back to no temp.

 

[LBZrcks]

Haha! Yep i did the boiling water test and the "180" didnt open till about 200 and same for the new one!

The factory/stock t-stats take a while to open.

 

[REDHOSS02]

I am going to venture to say its the head gasket. You'll get some heat for a short while until the T stat gets warm enough to open once. I'm not exactly sure how it all works but you'll get a big pressurized slug of air in there and then she's done making heat.

On mine, the gauge actually dropped back to no temp.

i did a block test and no evidence of hydrocarbons!

 

[REDHOSS02]

For some odd reason i keep thinking the coolant has something to do with it but i dont know. They put the orange coolant in and its straight anit-freeze not 50/50. Maybe thats part of the issue......yay or nay?

 

[k9duramax]

yeah, you need to mix it 50/50- not good to run it straight. also, IIRC the two thermostats are different temps from each other. what "heater core" trick did you try (never heard of any tricks for it??)?

 

[Vrabel]

you did bleed all the air out right?

 

[maxaholic]

I'm still leaning towards head gasket or cups.

 

[FMOS]

I think its the headgasket. How else would you get pressurized air in the system...

My gaskets were completely finished and there was no evidence of hydrocarbon when I drained all the coolant out. There was some signs of coolant in the cylinders though.

 

[REDHOSS02]

i appreciate all the help guys! i checked the upper rad hose this morning and it was soft all the pressure had released! i didnt know you could have a blown head gasket without hydrocarbons in the coolant!

 

[REDHOSS02]

how many gallons does the coolant system take. i am going to drain half and add distilled water but i need to know what half is!

 

[REDHOSS02]

6 gallons thanks guys!

 

[FMOS]

I dont think any "bleeding" is required either. I believe I just filled the reservoir tank and it all filled itself up. Might have pumped the rad hoses a bit. Then I started it and ran it and topped it up maybe 1 more litre and it was good.

 

[JoshH]

There is a bleed bolt on top of the thermostat housing.

 

[FMOS]

Hmm... Maybe I do recall doing that after all...

I got no idea what I did. All I know is I did a quality job because it ran afterwards and is still running.