Radiator Fill??????

[maclonchas]

OK folks it is my day to ask stupid questions. I am getting ready to put the upper radiator hose on with the center fill and overflow tank connection. I see adding coolant to the fill port will go down hill and fill the radiator, but do I need to pre-fill the engine through the water pump connection before I connect the upper hose. I am probable overthinking this issue, but want to try and reduce air pockets and an engine not getting coolant flow before first start.


Thanks

Bill

[Jeff Kleiner]

While filling open the petcock on the upper corner of the radiator and also remove the temperature sender or fan switch from the crossover at the front of intake manifold. Having these open will allow air to escape. When coolant starts to come from the petcock close it then watch the open port in the intake. When coolant begins to escape there reinstall the sender or switch. Doing this will greatly reduce the amount of air that gets trapped in the system initially.

Jeff

[egchewy79]

Fill the lower portion of the system first through the radiator fill T-piece. Open the DS petcock to let air out and close it once fluid leaks out. Then remove the temp sender in the intake cross over and if using a heater, take the heater hose from the heat exchanger and hold it up in the air, filling from above. Think beer bong. replace the temp sender once the air is purged out and fill the rest of the system through the heater hose.

[phileas_fogg]

If you have a heater, it helps to squeeze the feed and return hoses as you fill AFTER you've closed the radiator petcock and reinstalled the temperature sender. You can get into a rhythm kind of like milking a cow that will force fluid up and into the heater core. When you're doing it correctly you'll see the air bubbling out the t-neck filler.


John