Coolant Flush Dramas

[Deep Dish V35]

Been having trouble/concerns with the engine temp always running at 2/3rds on the gauge.... so i did a radiator flush in the hope that it would maybe clean out the system a bit....

Well.... after the flush, I refilled the system with one bottle of Water Wetter and not even 4 litres of anti freeze / anti boil coolant. I definitely had an air lock as the heater would not heat unless i revved the engine.... and managed to get another litre in. Shouldnt it take more like 8 litres????

Well, something is not right. When doing light acceleration (~1500 rpm) you can hear something like water trickling behind the dash ( i assume it is in the heater core )..... the temp now runs between the 3rd and 4th small top marks on the gauge (which is half a mark higher than it was).

I have also noticed that the lower radiator hose does not heat up..

So my assumption is that i still have an air lock at thermostat and that the thermostat either isnt opening or is the wrong temp. Does this sound right?

My questions now are... has anyone done a thermostat swap on a vq25dd? Any tips? And is it located in the front of the engine? Or is there a third bleed valve on the thermostat side of the motor?

Am kinda worried.....

Should I be driving it like this for a couple days? My drive to work is about 15 mins tops, maybe 8km, minimal traffic.

Edited May 29, 2011 by Trick V35

[scotty nm35]

Just 200ml missing is enough to overheat the engine, have you filled the rear bleed point when cold? You may need to do it a few times.

The thermostat is inside the housing the lower hose goes into, its 3 screws to remove it but its a bit tight down there. Test it in hot water if the re-bleed doesn't work.

[Deep Dish V35]

I was filling from both the rad cap and bleed point in a variety of ways... but will go out and recheck it now.

Apparently the only way to properly drain the system is by removing the thermostat housing... what a silly design fault.

Anyone know for sure if the vq25 and vq35 use the same thermostat housing? i cant find a vq25 part number anywhere at all..

ps... found a cooling system document in the stagea section but it still doesnt give me what i need..

Edited May 29, 2011 by Trick V35

[scotty nm35]

Yep, they are the same, just be careful if you go down the low temp thermostat route, stick to stock temp if possible or your fuel mapping may be all over the place.

[ironpaw]

Yep, they are the same, just be careful if you go down the low temp thermostat route, stick to stock temp if possible or your fuel mapping may be all over the place.

Ahh that's why you said I have to retune after installing that nismo thermostat...

GARRH

[Deep Dish V35]

i installed a 10 degree lower thermostat today and it made no difference to the engine temp..... and coolant blows out of the radiator filler hole when i increase revs.... so the radiator must be choked up. Obviously no water flowing thru it to heat up the thermostat.

Not concerned about the engine mapping as im sure it has been way out due to the increased engine temps anyway.... and the sooner it blows up, the sooner i can do a stagea engine conversion

Edited June 1, 2011 by Trick V35