I just noticed my top RAD hose is very hot and the coolant tank is at the full mark...I just noticed it today when I was washing the car, all I did was crank it up and let it run till the fan came on nd at that time the coolant tank was full to the COOL level...the temp gauge reads about where it should. I do have a 160* stat and a the switch to go with that stat....any ideas? IT may just be me but I thinking its not suppose to get that hot so fast...have do I check to see if the stat is stuck closed without gettin to it? IS that what it could be?

 

short of aiming a thermometer at it, you probly donno how hot it is....

its the hose that carrys the hot water away from the motor, meaning its carrying 180-220* water... its going to be hot when the motors running no matter what... even 160* will still feel hot to you....

 

Sounds like normal operation to me.

If the thermostat was stuck closed, that hose would not get hot. That is the first place coolant goes when it opens up, and that is where coolant is the hottest. Feel the bottom hose, it should be much cooler. Lets you know your system is cooling.

 

have you checked your exhaust manifold to see how hot it is? that'l give you a good indication if your engine is hot or not..........