i have a hatch with a b18c1 engine running a gsr radiator/fan....i turned on the car and let it idle for 15-20mins and the engine warms up fine...and stays where it should be....but the bottom radiator hose is not getting hott....feels like no coolant is flowing threw there....but my engine is not overheating..whats going on here... ..kinda scared to take it far till i find out what the problem is...should i just get a new thermostat?

 

In Helms manual there's a section on how to test the thermostat. But when in doubt, replace it, they're cheap. Does the radiator fan come on?

Oddly enough, after flushing coolant past weekend, it took about 20 minutes of idling before my thermostat opened. I was wondering the same thing. The car never overheats either.

 

coolant flows into top of radiator & then down - when it gets to the bottom it should not be hot at idle if everything is working right

 

[QUOTE]In Helms manual there's a section on how to test the thermostat. But when in doubt, replace it, they're cheap. Does the radiator fan come on?[QUOTE]

yes the fan turns right on...and no over heating...i thought the second tube should get hott like the first one also...am i wrong?

the reason why i havent have the chance but too test have the car idle for 20 mins is b/c i just finished the car and im waiting too get the insurance policy number to register the car ...imma keep yall updated and see if everything is o.k.

 

The lower coolant hose should be cooler meaning your radiator and cooling fan are doing their jobs...

 

Actually the coolant flows from the top hose into the engine, past the water pump, then through the thermostat and back to the radiator via the bottom hose. This hose gets hot when the thermostat opens.

 

because when it gets hot it tends to rise...

dont want the hot coolant going to the top of the radiator do we?

t..

(just a few cents worth )

 

oh yeah, forgot my original answer!

what does your temp needle do?

if it doesnt move much - there is usually a problem...

t..

 

...coolant flows from the top hose, down the radiator, through the lower hose, to the block, up to the head, and back out through the upper radiator hose back into the radiator...

 

Bet me and lose-

The thermostat would never open because it would be seeing cooler coolant. The head would be the last to receive cool coolant. Take off your thermostat and you'll see what I mean.

 

fixhondas is correct... the flow pattern is bottom to top.

do you work for honda? i tried that, hated repair work. can make good money though if your fast. i just cant take the repetitive work. i worked on stock hondas everyday for a long time and did my stuff on the side till i had enough money to open up my own place. i actually cant wait to go to work now. lovin life!!

 

so honda's use reverse cooling like an LT1?

 

I work at a Honda dealership but I am leaving in a week to go work for Honda R&D. I'll still be working on cars on non flat rate pay and will be doing new model preliminary problem solving. Repetitive work sucks, and scraping hours together when it is slow really sucks.

 

yes? no?

 

Good luck with the change fixhondas, I'm sure you will do one heck of a job over there!

 

I am not familiar with the LT1 cooling system- so I couldn't tell ya.

Thanks Break - hopefully I can make your job a little easier!

 

LT1 uses reverse flow cooling, coolant comes in the the upper hose, to the head first, then down to the block, out the lower hose, then up the radiator and back

i'm pretty sure honda's dont do this...

 

I'm siding with civictypeS on this one.

 

Hondas are not reverse flow, the flow is out of the head, the reason the thermostat opens is that water circulates from the head to the thermostat housing by the small 5/8 hose at the back of the intake manifold to the housing, until the thermostat opens.