DIY:*FIX* Coolant Air Bubble [ Heater not working / Temperature jumps / Loud BOOM ]
DIY:*FIX* Coolant Air Bubble [ Heater not working / Temperature jumps / Loud BOOM ]
#3
04-30-2009, 02:09 AM
#4
04-30-2009, 02:17 AM
Depending upon how much air is trapped in the cooling system, it's going to take more than removing the bleeder screw and making sure the overflow resevoir is kept full of coolant. Additionally, the cooling system may very well burp a large amount of coolant all over the engine bay if a large air pocket works its way to the radiator fill neck. That would be quite messy. Bleeding the cooling system in our engines requires much more work and time than reflected in that DIY. The system should be cycled through heating/cooling modes during the process. Those who are doing the coolant bypass mod will likely encounter more difficulty fully bleeding the system. A friend (rookie) turned me onto a Lisle coolant bleeding funnel which fits over the radiator fill neck. It worked well.
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ErikNYC (05-10-2020)
#5
04-30-2009, 02:22 AM
Depending upon how much air is trapped in the cooling system, it's going to take more than removing the bleeder screw and making sure the overflow resevoir is kept full of coolant. Additionally, the cooling system may very well burp a large amount of coolant all over the engine bay if a large air pocket works its way to the radiator fill neck. That would be quite messy. Bleeding the cooling system in our engines requires much more work and time than reflected in that DIY. The system should be cycled through heating/cooling modes during the process. Those who are doing the coolant bypass mod will likely encounter more difficulty fully bleeding the system. A friend (rookie) turned me onto a Lisle coolant bleeding funnel which fits over the radiator fill neck. It worked well.
#6
04-30-2009, 02:27 AM
It's possible that you were just fortunate or had very little air in the system. Do some research on this site and My350Z.com. You'll find that our cooling systems are notoriously difficult to bleed. That DIY is not going to cut it for 95% of the VQ owners. Have you monitored your temps with Cipher or similar program? The funnel looks like the attached image. I don't recall the correct model number for our cars though.
#7
04-30-2009, 02:34 AM
Really now? I recently performed this on a friends coupe, he had the engine temperature (rise) issue. I fixed it in less then an hour. Maybe I am part of that amazing 5%. And no I have not monitored my temps with cipher or anything. But thank you I will look and see if I can find the exact one or I will just talk to rookie tomorrow when I see him.
It's possible that you were just fortunate or had very little air in the system. Do some research on this site and My350Z.com. You'll find that our cooling systems are notoriously difficult to bleed. That DIY is not going to cut it for 95% of the VQ owners. Have you monitored your temps with Cipher or similar program? The funnel looks like the attached image. I don't recall the correct model number for our cars though.
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#8
04-30-2009, 02:50 AM
If you want to make the DIY worthwhile, you'll have to be more comprehensive and include information like temperature threshholds that determine when the thermostat will open and cycle the coolant through. Since you're going to see Viet tomorrow, ask him about it. He's very well versed in coolant bleeding since he's done it so many times.
#9
04-30-2009, 02:54 AM
If you want to make the DIY worthwhile, you'll have to be more comprehensive and include information like temperature threshholds that determine when the thermostat will open and cycle the coolant through. Since you're going to see Viet tomorrow, ask him about it. He's very well versed in coolant bleeding since he's done it so many times.
Thanks for the input though, I am coming to you if I feel like making a comprehensive one with more information.
#10
05-01-2009, 12:29 PM
#11
05-09-2009, 11:24 PM
yikes.
get vehicle fully hot. crank the heat
get the above mentioned funnel
add 1-2 inches of coolant
rev to 3 grand. hold for 10 seconds. repeat 2-3 times.
get out, purge bleeder. you should see bubbles fizzle out, then turn to just liquid.
top off funnel and reservoir as necessary.
continue until heat is nice and warm at idle. there will be a noticeable temp difference felt at idle vs 2-3 grand. this is normal.
get vehicle fully hot. crank the heat
get the above mentioned funnel
add 1-2 inches of coolant
rev to 3 grand. hold for 10 seconds. repeat 2-3 times.
get out, purge bleeder. you should see bubbles fizzle out, then turn to just liquid.
top off funnel and reservoir as necessary.
continue until heat is nice and warm at idle. there will be a noticeable temp difference felt at idle vs 2-3 grand. this is normal.
#12
08-04-2009, 06:00 PM
Depending upon how much air is trapped in the cooling system, it's going to take more than removing the bleeder screw and making sure the overflow resevoir is kept full of coolant. Additionally, the cooling system may very well burp a large amount of coolant all over the engine bay if a large air pocket works its way to the radiator fill neck. That would be quite messy. Bleeding the cooling system in our engines requires much more work and time than reflected in that DIY. The system should be cycled through heating/cooling modes during the process. Those who are doing the coolant bypass mod will likely encounter more difficulty fully bleeding the system. A friend (rookie) turned me onto a Lisle coolant bleeding funnel which fits over the radiator fill neck. It worked well.
-1 to the giant air bubble that burped coolant all over me last night
#14
08-04-2009, 11:40 PM
wasn't too bad man. i saw the level rise really quick so i shut the car down. right as i walked back to the front of the car there was one huge burp that spurted coolant everywhere. fortunately i had a towel over the plenum & intake so most of it ended up on the undertray - from reading the FSM, who would have thought that getting air out of the system would be the most difficult part of a radiator swap!?!?
