Did some tune-up today

[gstnewb]

It was time to replace some of the basics on the car since I bought it without knowing when was the last tune up it saw. So, I replaced the oil and oil filter, air filter, spark plugs and some other small things. I was going to change the fuel filter as well but didn't get to that. Anyways, as you know I had a coolant leak on my car and now I fixed. It was the thin hose coming from the turbo and going to the thermostat housing. Well I replaced that and added some coolant until the coolant bottle was full to the level it should be. I drove the car for a while and then checked the level again and the bottle was all empty again. So I filled it to the right level again since I am assuming all the components of the car needed to be filled with the new coolant and that's where all the coolant went the first time. I drove the car again for a few minutes, quite harshly too, and when I parked the level was at the right point, did not move at all. However, my water temp gauge is getting in the somewhat high range, about 3/4 up. Usually it stays about halfway. I also replaced the thermostat and gasket with a colder thermostat (10 degrees colder) so there is no reason for the water temperature to go up that high at all. There are no leaks whatsover. Did I do something wrong?? Maybe I should have 'bled' the cooling system somehow I haven't done this before and I possibly did something wrong in the process. I am still waiting for my manual to arrive so I have no clue. Please let me know what is going on.

Also, I put 4.5 quarts of oil according to the manual. That's the right amount for a 2.0 Turbo eclipse, correct?

[sganc4life_4]

Did you fill up the radiator or the resevoir? Fill up the radiator if thats what you did.

[gstnewb]

I just filled up the reservoir. So I should also fill up the whole radiator and also the reservoir to the right level?

[david-b]

Yup

[gstnewb]

damn, stupid me . There is no cap on the radiator though, only on the thermostat housing. I assume I should fill up the radiator from there until it's all the way up to that point? Isn't that too much fluid? In case there is too much coolant in the system it will be just returned to the reservoir, correct?

[george536]

you might want to do a fuel injection clean out. it did wonders for my car helped with my idle and acceleration. you can do "seafoam" product or just go to any tune up shop which they connect a bottle to one of your vacum lines and cleans it out.

[gstnewb]

That I will also be doing very soon when I change the fuel filter and some older fuel lines. The car is 16 years old and the previous and only owner was an old guy who didn't really know about cars. Therefore I am sure all those parts are ready to be changed any day now. Before I do any mods on the car I promised myself I will renew everything so little by little everything will be touched and renewed .
I just filled up the radiator and the reservoir so I should be ok now. It didn't take that much coolant for the radiator but it wasn't too little either. I am sure that was the problem with the high temperature.
Thanks for your help, guys. It sucks not having a manual and not being so experienced with these cars.

[crunchymilk55]

Fill it up from the radioator cap on the t-stat housing. "burp" the system by squeezing the upper radiator hose once it's full.

[gstnewb]

I can't squeeze that hose because it has some kind of a metal coil inside so it's very hard. I did everything else though and the car is running just perfect now. The temperature stays lower than normal and everything else is fine. I need to change the valve cover gasket next because it's leaking some oil. Thanks for all the advices!

[sganc4life_4]

Make sure to get a radiator cap, you need that 15psi pressure to heat up the system properly. I forgot the temps exactly but water boils at like 210 degrees or around there but the system has to run a lot hotter then that, so the pressure from the cap helps heat everything up.

[gstnewb]

Radiator cap? You mean the one on top of the thermostat housing, right?