Air in cooloing system

[Moser28]

99 GT 3.8 - radiator cap failed and sucked a TON of air in the system. I got a new cap and have been bleeding the air off everytime I drive it. It's been over a week now and there is still air in the system. What is the best way to get rid of all the air? Do I need to bleed it while the engine is running? It was just recently flushed so I don't want to do that again if I don't have to. The temp never gets higher than 210 but that is still warmer than it was right after I got the system flushed. Any help appreciated.

[Ripn12s]

Best way to do it is.

1. open bleeder valve on top of tstat housing. Just unscrew it, dont remove all the way as this will make closing it difficult when fluid starts coming out.
2. run car
3. when coolant starts coming out the bleeder valve then close the valve.

Hope this helps.

Tim

[Moser28]

OK. Tried that. Left bleeder open until a steady steam of coolant came out. Today I have the same problem. I think it is sucking air in somewhere. I also noticed that the new radiator cap is a 16 lb and the original was a 15 lb. Would this cause me problems?

[Ripn12s]

What exactly is the problem???

[Moser28]

Low coolant light keeps coming on. It will not come on until the thermostat opens. If the temp gets to 210 and I turn off the motor, the reservoir will fill up almost all the way. I can open the bleeder and nothing but air will come out. After that all the fluid is drawn back into the radiator. I know this can't be normal because it didn't do it before my radiator cap failed. When it failed I lost alot of coolant out of the top of the reservior. I have replaced the thermostat with a fail safe. The temp will still go to 210 and then it will come back down. I can't remember if the temp got that high before all this happened or not. I just can't seem to get all the air out.

[Ripn12s]

well if you put a stock tstat back in then it sounds like the tstat is working properly. Stock tstat is 195*

w/ the motor at operating temp when u open the bleeder does just coolant come out??

210 is not exactly too hot. My car see's 210 almost everyday and I use a 160* tstat. Sounds like your car is operating at the correct temps.

[Ripn12s]

Try a new cap and make sure the system is filled to correct levels.

[Moser28]

When the engine is running coolant comes out. If I stop the engine and wait about 5 minutes, then nothing but air comes out.

[Ripn12s]

air as in like steam??

[GTPCatz]

to bleed your coolant system your car MUST BE RUNNING!......if you stop the engine then expect air to come in because the pump is not ON!

[94sportsedan]

my 2kgt has never hit 210 on the guage yet either with my 195 thermostat or now with my 180 t-stat and dhp.

[Ripn12s]

Congrats. let me know when u move to Texas

[94sportsedan]

well it does get pretty hot here too in FL