Overheating Problems After Changing Coolant

[damono]

Hey guys..

Changed my coolant on the weekend. When I first got the car it had a suspected stuffed water pump which leaked under pressure test apparently, but was always fine when I drove it, just had to top up water every few months. Basically my water was brown and sludgy so I decided to change it finally and put some very nice new coolant and a radiator flush additive. Flushed all the gunk out and now my car seems to be overheating. I have bled the system from the top etc.. but still having problem with overheating. Personally I think all the crud that was in the system was holding all the parts together, now theres fresh stuff in there the water pump is stuffing up or possibly the thermostat. Basically short drives its ok, but if I head down the freeway it starts creeping up to about 3/4 high on temp guage where it usually sits below half way prior to flushing it. Shouldnt have touched it

I guess my question is that is if theres anywhere I can take it to get it tested and possible prices for a new R33 GTST water pump supplied and fitted (prefferably around rockingham area as I prefer not to stop every 15mins down the freeway if further), if anyones got one replaced before and if the symptoms sound about right.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Damo

[rev210]

didn't use nissan coolant did you?

You should never buy the cheap stuff with this sort of motor.Cooling system service ought to ALWAYS include the thermostat as well. My 2c is you need to have the block pressure flushed and the tanks on the radiator removed to pressure clean when properly servicing, ie: take it to a radiator place and fork out the extra dollars next time.

You may have just an airpocket if your lucky, re-bleed it and do the rest the right way.

Hopefully it works out buddy.

[damono]

I used RCI-100 rated coolant (which should be better than the nissan stuff) and plus, it was working fine before on just normal sludgy water so even crappy coolant would of been better than that. At first I thought it was a airpocket, but ive re-bled it properly this time (i think) and still seems to be having problem.

Whats the price for a 'Good' servicing at a radiator specialist going to cost me?

[Disko_Tek]

the sludge would have been blocking whatever holes leaks there were and now its flushed you have unblocked everything hense the over heating.

like rev said spend the extra and get it all done properly. any radiator place can do the testing for ya... call around your area.

[Steve]

definately re-bleed the cooling system - I have always found that just doing it when filling up the radiator always leaves bubbles...

Best way I have found (this sounds a bit dodge, but works very well) is to cut a coke bottle in half, and tape the open end to the radiator fill hole. Then run the engine until the thermostat opens and wait for the bubbles to stop coming up.

The coolant level in the coke bottle must be above the head, cos the bubbles always go to the thigh point (which is why some people fit header tanks)

Tecaloy 90 coolant works well too...

[damono]

Re-Bled system again, and still having overheating issues. I hope it isnt anything serious.

Im leaning towards water pump and/or thermostat issue

[Pal]

think your gunna have to bite the bullet and go see a specialist damo

[PHATR32]

definetly see a specalist.

if you had heaps of crap come out, theres a real good chance the thermostat is stuck closed.

might be one thing you could check out.

steve

[damono]

Yeh... i was thinking thermostat also. I might get it professionally cleaned and get them to change thermostat at the same time. How much would i be looking at approx?

[Pal]

go see them. and ask! theres one behind dixon rd. no good putting it off. it aint gunna go away

but having had a clean before on a radiator i think it cost me about 200-250 bux

Edited May 22, 2006 by Pal

[damono]

i was hoping it would just go away

PS.. your sig says 256rwhp and going up.

PPS.. i got 256.7rwhp

[ossie_21]

I got my timing belt & water pump done last week, Ken said to check the coolant level the next morning to make sure there was enough in there even though they do bleed it out. The reservoir was almost empty, so I filled it up again. Checked it again the next day and the coolant was right down again, filled it up again & now it's fine. Do you have enough coolant & it's still overheating?

[Pal]

and going down if you dont fix the problem.

hoping for 300rwhp by the end of the year