Chrysler Repair: 2002 CONCORDE: coolant air bleeder valve/ thermo housing gasket, bleeder valve, upper radiator hose

Question
I AM SHOWING SIGNS OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE THERMOSTAT. THERE IS A PURGE BLEEDER SCREW ON TOP OF THE HOUSING. I HAVE HAD TO ADD FLUID AND OF COURSE THE WHITE RESIDUE IS IN MY KNOWLEDGE ANTIFREEZE SMOLDERING. THIS IS A CLUSTERED AREA. DO YOU THINK IT WILL STOP LEAKING IF I PURGE THE SYSTEM,NEVER HAVE DOEN THAT BEFORE? OR SHOULD I REPLACE THERMO GASKET?
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

Answer
Hi Kirk,
The bleeder screw is for purging air from the upper part of the cooling system. If you think there is air trapped, you drain off a couple of quarts from the radiator petcock, saving it for reuse. You put a 1/4" diam. hose on the bleeder so the coolant doesn't spill on the drive belts. Then open the bleeder, and put the collected coolant in the radiator until it starts flowing out the hose.  Then squeeze on the upper radiator hose to release any air in that region. Then close the bleeder screw. I don't think that purging the air will affect the leak issue. If it is leaking around the thermostat housing, then I would replace the gasket after first draining off some coolant so that it drops below the level of the thermostat. Then do the refill and purge as described above.
Roland