Well, the head of the radiator drain-**** broke off when I tried to take it off of my radiator (stock). I decided to take the radiator out, and drill out the rest of that plastic POS, but I kinda stripped the threads in the process. I took the rad to a shop and had them repair the radiator (they put a new threaded boss and drain-****) and all seemed cool...

I accidentally forgot to tighten down the t-stat housing pressure cap and drove the car for about 10 mile, then is started overheating and steaming from the t-stat housing... The temperature NEVER reached past 2/3 of the gauge and was only close to that for about a minute before I got coolant back in the system.

Anyhow, I put the cap back on, filled up the radiator, and went for a drive-- nice and cool. No ill effects for about 80 miles, then the gauge started creeping up VERY slowly. Eventually, the pressure cap released and coolant started spewing into the overflow tank.

To make a long story short, I need to let the car cool down and re-fill my cooling system every 80 miles, but I have not yet determined whether or not I am losing any coolant before the pressure cap is letting loose... I am thinking my radiator can be partially clogged, causing the increase in pressure...

I am not seeing any smoke/steam coming from my tail pipes and I don't see any leaks. Does anyone have any ideas?

Can someona also recommend a place to buy a new radiator for less than what Mazdatrix wants?

PJ

 

Did you make sure your system was bled? How is your fan clutch?

 

No clutch-- e-fans. I don't think there is any air in the sys, but what is the proper bleeding procedure?

PJ

 

PJ!!! Ya goofball! You dont know this? Take the screw out of the side of the radiator by the upper radiator hose! Fill the rad til water comes out of that screw. Then put the screw back and continue filling!

Jarrett