Coolant Problem!!!

[jlevie]

Well, I didn't completely fix it before. Turns out I had a small hole in the lower radiator hose. It was slowly introducing air into the system and that was hopefully where all the air was being introduced, cauing coolant to flow out the reservoir tank when I shut it down.

As soon as the engine warms up the cooling system is under pressure, so a leak won't pull air into the cooling system.

Once fully bled, the only way air can get into the cooling system is via a problem with the head or head gasket. Well a cracked block is possible, but extremely rare.

[Ceeker]

ideally as mentioned it should be a tick below 12:00 position. However, I have seen it bang on and even at times a bit over but usually falls within this range. old viscose coupling may not engage as it should allowing it to creep a bit. I only have 1 e30 out of my 3 that runs a touch below 12. the other two are 12 and sometimes a bit above depending on weather.
it's been my experience that usually it is air in the system and just wasn't adequately bled. If the waterpump, head gasket and thermostat are operating normally then it's usually air. a little patience and a few tries at it gets it out.

[mrgraphics]

jlevie, the one thing you aren't taking into account: when the system was shut off and the pressure went away, all the coolant in the lower hose would leak out since the hole was at the bottom, leaving an air void. Once the car got up to temperature and the thermostat opened up, all that air would get re-introduced into the system. I know you're really trying to convince me to re-do my head gasket, but I drove it around all day with the fixed hose and the temps stayed rock solid after a real good bleed yesterday. No coolant spewed out . . . car was completely dry.

[mrgraphics]

I've resigned myself that jlevie is right. I need a new head gasket. Car is still overheating, and I've done everything possible to the cooling system. Flushed, new coolant, new hoses, new thermostat.

Once again your right jlevie. I apologize for my sense of denial.

[jlevie]

No apology was necessary. I completely understand the hope (vain in this case) for the cause to be something easier to fix.