Uncool Coolant Flush / Thermostat Screwup

[hour]

I guess that would have been a better idea. I tightened them finger tight (like, ruin your fingers tight) and then got maybe 1/8th of a turn with needle nose pliers on the very tip of the pins.

Anyway, I flipped the gasket around on the thermostat though it looked identical on either side. I then finger tightened the housing nuts equally, then torqued starting with the very bottom bolt. Put everything together again and began the fill... expecting at the 1 gal mark it'd start dripping again like before, but it didn't.

Got it filled, bled system again for 20 minutes in the driveway, thermostat opened at around 181* on my Torque app and things started flowing. Continued to top off, filled reservoir, and went for a spin. Did everything the same as yesterday - AC on recirculate, high, gunned it on interstate, got off at a stop where it was 217* yesterday. It didn't budge past 190*f. Seems to like to sit at 188.6 on my display actually... so I'm going to call this problem resolved!!! Will continue to drive around with coolant and a funnel for the next few days to see if any trapped air manifests, but things are definitely cooler.

Total materials in this were:

1. OEM thermostat and gasket with jiggle valve at 6 oclock
2. Six point 12mm socket for stubborn thermostat housing bolts
3. ReadyRad radiator, part #431402 from Advance Auto Parts
4. Radiator cap, 13psi, part# 10241 from Advance Auto Parts
5. 3 gal Zerex red premixed coolant

Thanks all for help

 

[nissanh]

We like to see the condition of your old radiator. Since the top tank is plastic break it and take a look at the water passage lines. When I did mine, there were like 35 clogged out of 42 passages. don't forget to post a picture of it.

Yeah, water has the highest specific heat capacity than any other liquid. So water is best for coolers/radiators. Ethyleneglycole hydrogen bonds with water and increases the boiling point and decreases the freezing point.