Bleeding Air From Coolant System

[Corndog Man]

I have changed coolant in my 1999 3.8 a few times. I don't recall bleeding air from the system but I haven't had cooling problems. What is the procedure to bleed air from a Lumina cooling system?

Corndog...

[TexasGuy]

Nothing major, first week just be checking the coolant level, the air should come out by itself if nothing is damaged internally.

[Corndog Man]

Originally Posted by TexasGuy

Nothing major, first week just be checking the coolant level, the air should come out by itself if nothing is damaged internally.

Thanks! I tend to do that fairly regularly on all my vehicles. I thought there may be a relief valve or something like that.

Corndog.

[jeffcoslacker]

There are bleeder valves at the thermostat and on the pipe above the water pump. Open both and fill the radiator directly. when they flow liquid, close both and run to operating temp. Shut off, let sit for ten miutes or so, then repeat fill with valves open again.

Sometimes they will purge themselves without bleeding, but if air is trapped overheating will be sudden and sometimes catastrophic, usually occurs as soon as the engine is running at higher rpm....I've seen them sit and idle at a steady temp for half an hour, then go over the top within a couple of blocks once driven...

[Corndog Man]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

There are bleeder valves at the thermostat and on the pipe above the water pump. Open both and fill the radiator directly. when they flow liquid, close both and run to operating temp. Shut off, let sit for ten miutes or so, then repeat fill with valves open again.

Sometimes they will purge themselves without bleeding, but if air is trapped overheating will be sudden and sometimes catastrophic, usually occurs as soon as the engine is running at higher rpm....I've seen them sit and idle at a steady temp for half an hour, then go over the top within a couple of blocks once driven...

Thanks! Will give it a look

Corndog...