Chrysler Repair: Cooling system 92 voyager van 3.3 L engine, outlet hoses, radiator hose

Question
I recently replaced the radiator, much fluid was lost when it blew. I have replaced the radiator and refilled with coolant. Now, I have no heat. The engine is hot, fan on but no heat. after I first refilled the system and started the engine, the radiator was full but after the engine cooled, the top radiator hose was collapsed and the radiator was low on fluid. The overflow tank is cleaned and filled with no leaks in hose between tank and radiator. I am told that I quite possibly have an air block or my thermostat is stuck open. Changing the thermostat & upper hose will be no problem but how do I bleed the air from the cooling system?

Jimmy

Answer
Hi Jimmy,
The first few cycles of heat/cooldown of the engine following a major component change(e.g., the radiator) will cause the trapped air in the system to move to the radiator and from there to the overflow bottle. So I would continue to refill the system for a few more engine use cycles until all the trapped air bleeds out of the system. If the main concern is low/no heat then be sure to feel the temperture of the inlet and outlet hoses that go through the firewall to the heater core. If the flow rate is good then the hoses should be similar in temperature (hot) where as if there is air trapped in the heater core or an impediment to the coolant flow through the core then the outlet hose will feel noticeably cooler. If the engine is shown on the gauge to be at operating temp (1/2 to 3/4 scale) the there is no problem with the thermostat being stuck open. So give it a little more time to bleed the air and assess the heater hoses temp similarity or difference. There are some useful ideas in the manual which I could xerox and postal mail to you if you will give me a postal mailing address.
Roland
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