24V OBD1 E30, overheating.

[ArtClassShank]

Replaced the radiator today, still running a bit hot. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to bleed the system of air. I'm using an E30 resorvior, so I don't have a bleed screw.

I did some research and I came across this:

You need to get the front of the car jacked up, or park facing up a hill. Use the small hose that goes from the radiator to the reservoir as a bleed valve. Start the car, rev it up a bit and wait for it to start warming up. You should have the heater turned up to full hot, and the fan on all the way. As it gets hot, pull the small hose back a bit of the radiator. You will probably see bubbles. Keep doing this until you have coolant without bubbles coming out.

Is this good procedure?

[yahh]

That's the way I did it. No problems with overheating at all.

[ArtClassShank]

That's the way I did it. No problems with overheating at all.

Well thats enough for me. Parked on a hill tonight, will bleed tomorrow.

I'll update with results.

[yahh]

Well thats enough for me. Parked on a hill tonight, will bleed tomorrow.

I'll update with results.

I just used ramps instead. Same concept though. Might be a few times before you get all the bubbles out.

[ArtClassShank]

Today I bled the system using the method described earlier. It was messy but it seemed to do the trick.

I also pulled the cluster and soldered my ground points for fuel/temp guage. I now have a functioning fuel guage and a temp guage that doesnt jump around.

I do have a theory that the car never 'really' overheated. Never boiled over or steamed, just a crazy guage that required constant tapping.

I hate to jinx myself, but I think that did it.

Hopefully its the last cooling issue for awhile. Never did put in a bigger fan, but Ill get to it before next summer.

Hope this thread helps people in the future, I now know the stress of the E36 cooling system.

[yahh]

It's a pain in the ass to get it working, but once you do its a good system. I don't have A/C but even sitting in traffic in 100* days I don't overheat.

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