HELP! Coolant System having Problems!

[onecrazyfoo4u]

I have a 95 with a redtop in it. I just changed out the water pump, thermostat, both hoses, and put a new aluminum radiator in it. I'm still running the stock clutch fan with shrouding too. I went for a few minute drive to see how it was, and it was past H on the stock gauge and at 210 deg. on my autometer gauge within 3-4 minutes. This isn't normal, my autometer would never go past 180 before.

When I stopped, my radiator and upper hose were both pretty hot. But the lower hose and my coolant reservoir were both still cold. What does this mean? Does that point to something specific that isn't working properly? I've got to figure this out, I need my car badly, please help!

Also, it's just a stock replacement thermostat, and instead of just and open hole that you center up top, it has a little ball/pin in the hole, so it wouldn't flow as freely. Does this mean anything? Thanks!

[onecrazyfoo4u]

I took it for another 5 min. ride, and my autometer gauge didn't go over 180 this time, but the stock gauge was on H the whole time. When I stopped the engine, the upper hose was somewhat hot again, and the lower hose was still cold. Only the top half of the radiator was hot, bottom half was cold. And I have heat inside, the heater's nice and hot, so my heater hoses are hot as well. What could it be!?

[vancouverbc]

air

looking up coolant in tutorial link in signature for bleeding

[onecrazyfoo4u]

Well I went out this morning and the reservoir was almost out, so I filled that up. The radiator was also a little low, so I filled that up to. Then I bleed it again doing the screw method until it was just straight liquid coming out. Then I jacked the front of the car up and filled it through the radiator continuosly while reving the engine every so often.

Took it for a half hour drive and it didnt' overheat this time, stayed at a constant 180. It seems like it heated up to 180 really fast though. When I stopped, the top of the radiator and the upper hose was hot. But the lower hose and bottom of the radiator was still look warm.

Do you think that the thermostat having that ball/pin thing in the hole instead of an open hole would cause this problem? Should I just drill it out so it's an open hole, or leave it as is? What do your guys' thermostats look like? Thanks for the help!

[vancouverbc]

this is the prestone one i bought for my car. i dont know anything about this.

[onecrazyfoo4u]

Wierd, that one looks totally different then mine, not a single hole in it either. I don't understand these things at all! Whatever, hopefully bleeding it over and over again will fix the problem.