1. im not gonna drain it so i know some coolant gonna squirt, afterward do i just pour some coolant back into the radiator?

2. after i remove the two bolts, i just pull the cover off?

3. once I get the cover off, how do i remove the actual thermostat? is it twist off or pull off or what

4. i read about aligning the thermostat, how hard is that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by happy_guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">1. im not gonna drain it so i know some coolant gonna squirt, afterward do i just pour some coolant back into the radiator?
Yes, just pour some back into the radiator. 50/50 water/coolant, or the premixed stuff, doesn't matter. Keep the cap off, start the car, wait for the thermostat to open, add more when you see the level drop. Then cap off the radiator when you're done.

2. after i remove the two bolts, i just pull the cover off?
Yup

3. once I get the cover off, how do i remove the actual thermostat? is it twist off or pull off or what
Just pull it off. It comes right out

4. i read about aligning the thermostat, how hard is that?
Put it back so that the little indentation is pointed up. There's like a little metal point on one side.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Yes, just pour some back into the radiator. 50/50 water/coolant, or the premixed stuff, doesn't matter. Keep the cap off, start the car, wait for the thermostat to open, add more when you see the level drop. Then cap off the radiator when you're done.

how do i know when the thermostat opens? if i keep the cap open after a few minutes wont it bubble and start flying everywhere. also, if i dont fully bleed the system, will air get in?

 

how do i know when the thermostat opens? if i keep the cap open after a few minutes wont it bubble and start flying everywhere. also, if i dont fully bleed the system, will air get in?

When you put the new thermostat in and bolt the housing back closed, you add more coolant in the radiator, right? Add it until it's full. Then you want to leave the cap off, start the car and have it run for a few minutes.

You'll know when the thermostat opens when the radiator fan turns on, and the level of the water/coolant in the radiator that you just filled to the top suddenly drops down. Then you add more until the top, then you cap it off.

If, for some reason, your fans don't work, just listen to the motor. It'll sound like there's extra load on it as the coolant flows through the motor. Then watch for the drop in the level, then fill it. Very easy.

EDIT: It might splash and bubble a tiny bit, but nothing major. It's not hot enough to really do anything yet. Once it's starts cycling through your motor, then it'll get hot quick. Add the coolant quick and cap it off. "Bleeding the system" is basically what you just did.