Overheating after new headgasket

[corey170]

Ok I have searched but it hasn't really helped. I just replaced the headgasket on my ka24de and I also got the head decked and pressure tested. Now my car is overheating after about 10 minutes or so of driving. I have rigorously bled the system multiple times and no more air is coming out (rad cap off with funnel parked on a hill for 30 minutes with heater and fan on high, bleeder bolt out, etc.). The heater puts out good heat too so it doesn't look like there's air in there. within the year I have put a new water pump and thermostat in, and yes I put the stat in right with the jiggle valve facing up. The rad looks new too, although I don't know how new. Any ideas on what could be going on? the coolant doesn't build up pressure like it used to so I doubt I'm getting exhaust gases in there

[corey170]

So after driving for like 20 minutes today the car finally overheated again. Fan was spinning but I decided to feel the rad. Sure enough, the entire driver side of the rad was cold (except at the very top and bottom). May have been that liquid head gasket sealer that I used before I had the time to actually put in a new HG. Does this sound like a clogged rad? I'm just not really too sure if this would cause the overheating or if its something else as well?

[Hijacker]

It could also be indicative of the T stat not opening. If you picked up a parts store brand from Autozone, Advance, etc, it's possible you got a bad one. If you plan on pulling the coolant system again to yank the radiator, might as well pull the t stat and boil up some water to test it.

But it's also possible that the radiator is clogged. I would have it flushed anyways.

[corey170]

I work in a chemistry lab so I always check my thermostats before installation to determine their opening temperature. However this one has been in there for almost 9 months now so maybe it has gone to crap in that time. If the T stat isn't opening then wouldn't the car overheat pretty quickly? I can drive for a good 20 minutes after getting up to operating temp and the needle just sits there, then it will go up conveniently when I arrive at my destination