[RedSS454]

I went to top off the radiator today and was waiting for the temp to come up. The water level never dropped, so I went in to go to take it for a drive, and looked at the temp gauge. 240*. Ah! So my new problem is with the cooling. When I had the bypass hose on last week, it didn't happen. Could the lack of a bypass hose cause air to be in the system, so it doesn't reach the thermo? The way it looks is the bypsas hose shoots the water into the thermo housing. So I think I should go back to running the bypass? I need an answer ASAP because I need an inspection and need to be able to drive it there without the temp getting up. BTW, the thermostat is a 160*

Thanks a lot,

Chris

 

[kjett]

I went to top off the radiator today and was waiting for the temp to come up. The water level never dropped, so I went in to go to take it for a drive, and looked at the temp gauge. 240*. Ah! So my new problem is with the cooling. When I had the bypass hose on last week, it didn't happen. Could the lack of a bypass hose cause air to be in the system, so it doesn't reach the thermo? The way it looks is the bypsas hose shoots the water into the thermo housing. So I think I should go back to running the bypass? I need an answer ASAP because I need an inspection and need to be able to drive it there without the temp getting up. BTW, the thermostat is a 160*

Thanks a lot,

Chris

I don't run a bypass. Try removing the thermostat and testing again. Maybe the thermostat is sticking?

 

[Just_Another_Mike]

I don't run bypasses either, but I have my thermostats drilled in 3 places with 3/16 holes 120 degrees apart to prevent pressure problems.

Mike

 

[RedSS454]

I don't run bypasses either, but I have my thermostats drilled in 3 places with 3/16 holes 120 degrees apart to prevent pressure problems.

Mike

That's what I was going to do, but wanted to see if anyone heard of the problem.

Also, I don't think that the thermo is sticking. It is teh same one that was in there a week ago and it ran fine. It is less then 3 weeks old and worked fine up until today, and the only thing I did was cap the bypass hose and run Anti-freeze instead of water.

Chris

 

[kjett]

That's what I was going to do, but wanted to see if anyone heard of the problem.

Also, I don't think that the thermo is sticking. It is teh same one that was in there a week ago and it ran fine. It is less then 3 weeks old and worked fine up until today, and the only thing I did was cap the bypass hose and run Anti-freeze instead of water.

Chris

Chris, Mike may be onto something. I run a restrictor rather than a thermostat so that may be why I haven't seen similar issues. Let us know what you find. Good luck.

 

[RedSS454]

Let us know what you find. Good luck.

No problem. I will get back to you hopefully tommorow. I stripped out the water neck hole in the intake, so I will put in the bypass and see if it makes a difference and report back.

Also, how long does it take your car to come up to temp in the colder (40*) months? The restrictor plated sounds like it could be a good idea. I guess I could always change the plate to a thermo in teh cooler months.

Chris

 

[kjett]

No problem. I will get back to you hopefully tommorow. I stripped out the water neck hole in the intake, so I will put in the bypass and see if it makes a difference and report back.

Also, how long does it take your car to come up to temp in the colder (40*) months? The restrictor plated sounds like it could be a good idea. I guess I could always change the plate to a thermo in teh cooler months.

Chris

Chris, as you probably know my car is mostly bracket with limited street duty. In the winter months when the temperatures are cool (say 35-40F) it takes the car about 5 minutes to warm up idling around. I like to get the water/oil temp up before I drive it too far. If I want/need to bring the temp up faster I just switch off the fan/pump (both are electric).

 

[Just_Another_Mike]

Chris,

I absolutely guarantee that if you either put the bypass back in or drill the small holes, your problem will cure itself. I made the mistake of running a BBC with a non-drilled thermostat and plugged the bypass and had my temps jumping all over the place, mostly to the 220 and higher areas.

Mike

 

[chev-hell]

i've had the same problem but only to 195ish... then comes right down, and i have the holes drilled, it just takes time for the stat to open i think.... i don't have the bypass either never had it. it'll jump to 195 then come down slowly, but it's not hot the stat isn't opening i think it's because there is NO flow at it, and it takes a while to heat up to opening temps...

 

[Bob West]

I drilled 4 1/8" holes around the outside of the thermostat and I use the bypass hose also, when its cold outside it takes forever to warm up, but seems to cool quicker when its hot outside, with a little help from the AFCO aluminum radiator. I'm using a stock GM waterpump and clutch fan too.

 

[camcojb]

I think the problem was in how you filled the block. You need to remove the thermostat and fill the block completely; re-install the thermostat and finish filling the radiator.

I've run standard thermos and no bypass without issues several times. I do like the drilled thermostats, just think the issue is water trapped in the block from incorrect filling of the engine.

Jody

 

[RedSS454]

Thanks guys. I fixed it today. I just put the bypass hose back in. I was a ltittle hesitant to pull of the water neck because of the stripped threads, so I wanted to do that last. But, it fixed the problem so thats all that counts. Went up to about 180* and then settled back down 165*, just where I like it.

Thanks again,

Chris