My temp gauge just shot through the damn roof on the way home, never actually got hot enough to damage anything (hopefully), but my question is this...My upper hose is hot as hell, but the lower one is cool to the touch. Is this a thermostat issue or could it be something else? Thanks in advance.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmsol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My temp gauge just shot through the damn roof on the way home, never actually got hot enough to damage anything (hopefully), but my question is this...My upper hose is hot as hell, but the lower one is cool to the touch. Is this a thermostat issue or could it be something else? Thanks in advance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You just called it it's sure deos sounds like a thermostat issue to me.

 

Thanks for the quick response. Could it be anything else is this safe to assume that the thermostat is the only problem?

 

Bad headgasket? Change the therm first though

 

See I was originally thinking water pump, because the upper hose is hot, meaning that the thermostat is open, but not coming going through the lower hose because the water pump is failing. Does that make sense to anyone? Thanks for the responses so far.

 

I had my thermostat get stuck before on my z6, Hope you didnt warp your head

 

Dont let it get hot.. I did once and it wasted a crank bearing. hence a toasted engine..
The top of my radiator sprang a leak. I first started noticing temps during high speed 90mph plus.. so watch it..

 

Well, I'm not going fast like that or anything but I'll keep that in mind. So if the top hose is hot, then the thermostat is open, thus working properly, correct? Or am I misinformed here? Will having the heat or A/C on help this any until I can tear into it some?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmsol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> So if the top hose is hot, then the thermostat is open, thus working properly, correct? Or am I misinformed here? Will having the heat or A/C on help this any until I can tear into it some?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, if the upper hose is hot and the lower is cold to the touch - this means the thermostat is not opening. The thermostat is locate on lower hose that goes to motor.

And yes, turning on the heater on will help reduce engine temp; for, the heater core acts like a radiator a heat exchanger.

 

could be t-stat, could be head gasket


pull the t-stat out and stock in boiling water and make sure it's opening. If it is, then flush the entire cooling system, and then see what happens

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Emerika &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could be t-stat, could be head gasket


pull the t-stat out and stock in boiling water and make sure it's opening. If it is, then flush the entire cooling system, and then see what happens</TD></TR></TABLE>

i thought u need to put the T stat in some solvent or something not just boiling water to see if it still opens...( i might be wrong)...

anyways start with the t stat...pretty cheap part...then move up to bigger things from there...

 

The head gasket appears to be fine by the looks of it....no physical evidence of leaking. Can't I tell by crap floating in the radiator or something. I'll pull the thermostat out on Tuesday, but in the meantime, any other suggestions?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by degooser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i thought u need to put the T stat in some solvent or something not just boiling water to see if it still opens...( i might be wrong)...

anyways start with the t stat...pretty cheap part...then move up to bigger things from there...
</TD></TR></TABLE>


what kind of solvent??? Water is just fine.

 

Sounds like thermo. We had the same problem in our rally car. Maxed out the Autometer 250 temp guage and the thing still got us home.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HONDADNA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Okay, if the upper hose is hot and the lower is cold to the touch - this means the thermostat is not opening. The thermostat is locate on lower hose that goes to motor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Is the thermostat located on the upper or lower hose? It's too damn dark to see anything and I've never even thought about doing this before.

 

i'll be the first one to step up and say it doesnt sound like a thermo problem, sounds like you have air in your cooling system and it needs to be bled, bad!!!!

-Bryan-

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGStreetHtch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'll be the first one to step up and say it doesnt sound like a thermo problem, sounds like you have air in your cooling system and it needs to be bled, bad!!!!

-Bryan-</TD></TR></TABLE>

We might have a winner here. I had a hairline crack in the radiator. This could be causing the problem I suppose. Thought that was taken care of, but maybe not. Good call.

 

this is a 1rst gen b16 but im sure its the same on your SOHC

start your car and warm it to normal operating temp.
slowly loosing the purge valve, have a rag around to keep the job clean.
once the purge valve is loose it should start shooting out air bubbles and coolant.
the key is you are not done until there is a perfect stream of coolant being released.
pump the bottom hose while purging to help/speed up the process.
where you're done, make sure your resevoir is full and be ready to refill it after running your car a bit, it will be pulling coolant from there till its at the necessary level.

good luck
-Bryan-

 

Excellent pic and write up! Thank you so much.
EGStreetHtch for Pres.!!!