Low cooling temperature

[NOVAZ27]

?? What was the temp rating of the new thermostat? The afore mentioned sludge may be blocking the temp. sensor thus giving a faulty reading. The lower gas mileage may caused in part by the gasoline formulas in your state. Gasahol has a lower energy/heat content than regular gas. This is discussed in another thread at length.
Prestone makes a flush kit that can be installed into a heater hose. You do have to leave a hose undone somewhere as to not build up the high pressure. Just follow prestone's directions. Messy but still works.
hope this helps.

Novaz27

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by NOVAZ27

?? What was the temp rating of the new thermostat? The afore mentioned sludge may be blocking the temp. sensor thus giving a faulty reading. The lower gas mileage may caused in part by the gasoline formulas in your state. Gasahol has a lower energy/heat content than regular gas. This is discussed in another thread at length.

Prestone makes a flush kit that can be installed into a heater hose. You do have to leave a hose undone somewhere as to not build up the high pressure. Just follow prestone's directions. Messy but still works.
hope this helps.

Novaz27

Which member are you giving the advice to? There are three members with different issues that posted in this thread. Be sure to use our quoting system or address the reply to a specific member.


On using the Prestone flush kit you tee into one of the heater hose lines (return). The same tee is used to connect the water supply/source. Also, you can use the special discharge fitting that comes with the kit installed to the radiator filler neck which will reduce flushing water pressure. There is no requirement to disconnect any hoses that I know of.

We have a tech procedure posted at our Tips & Maintenance section that covers using the Prestone or a similar DIY flush kit. See below and link.

Click here

Install the flush T from the Prestone Flush Kit in the heater return line hose from the heater core per the instructions on the label.

Top Heater Hose = return
Bottom Heater Hose = pressure

1. With engine cool, remove radiator cap and drain the radiator.
a. Turn drain plug (lower left engine-side of radiator) counter clockwise about 1/8 of a turn (may require a little force if it's not been opened in awhile--be careful because it's plastic). Use the end of a 1/4" drive handle. Plug will extend slightly as it loosens. Be sure to have a container in-place to collect the antifreeze.
2. Let all the antifreeze drain into a container.
3. Remove, drain and clean the antifreeze overflow bottle. Reinstall bottle.
4. Hook up a garden hose to the flush T and turn water on (Caution: not too high or you can damage seals/gaskets with the pressure). When water starts to run from the drain plug, start the engine and turn the heater on (make sure you leave the water running during this process).
5. When water runs clear (about 5 - 10 minutes), turn off car, then turn off water, and remove hose from T and cap it. Let remaining water run from drain plug. (Note: Not all of water will be drained out of system mainly the engine block. What I do is hook up a drain hose to the T connector, start engine and let the water pump push water out of the system. As soon as you see no water coming out turn engine off, remove drain hose and cap off T connector).
6. Close radiator drain plug and fill radiator with a 50-50 mix of extended life 5/150 antifreeze/distilled water (or buy premixed 50/50).
7. Start vehicle and bring to operating temperature to make sure thermostat opens. Add additional mixture as necessary until full.
8. Reinstall radiator cap.
9. Release any trapped air in cooling system by turning the plug on the top of the thermostat housing (be careful not to burn yourself). When only coolant (no air) flows from the plug, close it. You may have to repeat this several times to get all of the trapped air. Note: Raising the front end of the car where the radiator is higher than the engine helps bleeding.
10. Add additional coolant as necessary. Also, fill overflow bottle to recommended level. Be careful not to open radiator cap if hot. You may have to do this several times.
11. Check for leaks.
12. Properly dispose of old antifreeze.

[NOVAZ27]

HELLO. I was just posting general information to everyone. I have been doing my own vehicle work since the 60s. Just trying to help out. You all have a great forum here. I just have to learn the ropes of posting on the forum and learn how to type. You can teach an old dog new tricks if they are willing to learn.

NOVAZ27

[amc74]

Hello everyone. I was the original poster of this posting and I want to follow up with this issue. I replaced the thermostat with a stock 195 replacement. The fail-safe t-stat that I took out had the fail-safe engaged. Basically it was locked in the WIDE OPEN position and will stay that way until physically removed/replaced. I dont know why it did this; it was a 195 t-stat. I dont recall the coolant temp spiking up on the guage but problem seems to be solved, for now........

Thankyou to everyone, on this forum who replied and added their tips and solutions.