Calixbwsx

I flushed my radiator on Sunday and drove the car around for 20 minutes and car was fine on Tuesday on my way to work I see the temp gauge going past the 220 mark.before I put new coolant the car was fine now that I put new coolant the gauge showes me that my ca is overheating what did I do wrong?

topradman

Recheck you coolant level in the radiator and the overflow reservoir. Most likely air locked. Best way to fill these is with the heat on. If your car is original it should have a heater control valve. You should refill the car while it is running with the heater turned on. Initial fill do not fill all the way to the top, just to where you can see the coolant down in there. Warm up car with heater on so coolant circulate through the whole system. As heat begins to build, coolant will start to rise in the filler neck of the radiator. Hold rpm up slightly after this begins to happen so coolant does not overflow the filler neck. Keep running until coolant level drops dramatically. Top hose should get hot, then top off and put cap on immediately, then let off throttle cable. To know if it is then full, you should be getting heat out of your heater and top hose should feel like there is some pressure. If top hose feels like no pressure, you missed the window of opportunity to top off so throttle back up with cable by hand, slowly remove cap and top off again holding throttle up. Should get good heat out of heater, top hose feels pressured and very warm. Check overflow reservoir, Should be done.

avst03

Also check that you have a proper mix of water and antifreeze in your car too much or too little is not good. Try to stay at 50/50.
I've had vehicles which get air trapped in the system until the thermostat opens and I have found that drilling a 1/16" hole in the thermostat to allow the trapped air out and the coolant to reach the thermostat works great. Car purges the air out quicker because of the small hole to bleed out the air.

3rdgenowner

Bad thermostat or water pump might need to be replaced.mine runs between 220 and 240.