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Who all has done this? I've read the stock one has a hole in it, how big are we talking about. Is there any other way to get air out the cooling system?
95 Contour Gl - the work beater - bought 6/15/03
88 S-10 Blazer - back up beater - owned since 89
97 Cobra Vert - my weekend toy - bought 12/01
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Hard-core CEG'er
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I just bust a new t-stat for my car also.
I would like to know about this drilling thing.
Anyone ??
Anything is POSSIBLE... sowing the seeds of love"
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Joined: May 2002
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I have no life
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I have no life
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I'd like to know too. The old one had an air bleed valve. I haven't had any problems yet but you never know.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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About an 1/8" hole would probably not hurt the operation of the thermostat and some are built that way, but I have an alternative suggestion.
This is a trick another technician taught me years ago to help fill the cooling system more easily. With you fingers, gently force the thermostat slightly open. Insert a plastic spray wand from an areosol can (such as one left over from an expired can of WD40 or choke spray) into the thermostat opening forcing the thermastat to not fully close. Clip off the wand so that it doesn't interfer with installing the thermostat (about an inch long piece will usually do).
This keeps the thermostat from fully closing while you make the initial fill. Once the coolant warms up enough for the thermostat to open, the small piece of plastic wand floats away into the coooling system where it will do no harm.
Since learning this trick, I have seldom had trouble getting all the air out of a cooling system.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
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Joined: May 2002
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I have no life
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so if u did it enough, you would eventually clog the cooling system with little plastic pieces, right?   seriously, do I need to drill a hole? I mean it's in there right now with no problems.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Originally posted by Big Jim:
About an 1/8" hole would probably not hurt the operation of the thermostat and some are built that way, but I have an alternative suggestion.
This is a trick another technician taught me years ago to help fill the cooling system more easily. With you fingers, gently force the thermostat slightly open. Insert a plastic spray wand from an areosol can (such as one left over from an expired can of WD40 or choke spray) into the thermostat opening forcing the thermastat to not fully close. Clip off the wand so that it doesn't interfer with installing the thermostat (about an inch long piece will usually do).
This keeps the thermostat from fully closing while you make the initial fill. Once the coolant warms up enough for the thermostat to open, the small piece of plastic wand floats away into the coooling system where it will do no harm.
Since learning this trick, I have seldom had trouble getting all the air out of a cooling system.
A similar and probably even less intrusive than a piece of plastic would be to use an asprin or two. They just dissolve in coolant when the fluid reaches them.
However, as you said, one or two small holes probably wouldn't hurt either.
TB
"Seems like our society is more interested in turning each successive generation into cookie-cutter wankers than anything else." -- Jato 8/24/2004
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CEG\'er
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Better way to do it is to use an aspirin tablet to hold the 'stat open.
The aspirin will dissolve and allow proper operation - and your cooling system will never have a headache!
AL
Red '98 SVT E0 3098/6535
DMD
other stuff
and a Bullitt fuel door
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If the new t-stat already has an air bleed hole, there should be no need to drill an additional one. Just make sure it is in the 12 o'clock position.
I heard of some vehicles having some sort of air bleeder on the engine or elsewhere, but this is a case when there may be pockets in the cooler system.
Dan B.
96 SE 2.5 auto
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I don't think you would even need to bother. You should know how much collant the system takes from the book. You fill the sytem as much as you can and then when you run the car the first time the water pump should force the air out and then you add more coolant if needed.
We have done the cooling system on my car and my fathers car, we just filled the system and that was the end of it. Of course the system was rinsed out first with water since I replaced my radiator and my father had to replace his water pump at the times.
Just like when you change your oil. I let the car run a few minutes and then check the level, add more as needed
- 95 Mystique LS - Zetec/5spd
- 99 Contour SeVT Sport - Duratec/5spd
Official NE-CEG Contour/Mustang Family
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Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
... seriously, do I need to drill a hole? ...
No, cooling system designed (with its Octopus hose) to continually separate out air, see operation description from service cd below:
COOLING SYSTEM
Note:
The engine cooling system must be maintained with the correct concentration and type of anti - freeze solution to prevent corrosion damage.
The cooling system consists of:
â?? A radiator.
- Expansion tank cap.
â?? Coolant thermostat.
â?? Water pump.
â?? Engine cooling fan motors and fan blades which are activated by the powertrain control module (PCM) through two ISO relays in the battery junction box located near the battery in the engine compartment.
â?? A separate coolant expansion tank located beside the radiator helps to maintain the correct volume of engine coolant.
The water pump is of a conventional design and is driven by the left - hand side intake camshaft through a drive belt on 2.5L vehicles and by the crankshaft pulley through the accessory drive belt on 2.0L vehicles.
The coolant thermostat:
â?? Is located in the coolant thermostat housing.
â?? Allows rapid engine warm - up by restricting engine coolant flow at lower operating temperatures.
â?? Assists in keeping the engine operating temperature within predetermined limits.
The engine cooling system operates as follows:
â?? Coolant enters the radiator through the radiator inlet tank.
â?? Coolant flows through the radiator tubes and is cooled by air passing over the cooling fins assisted by the fan control and the fan blades.
â?? Coolant is then circulated from the radiator outlet tank where it mixes with coolant from the radiator coolant expansion tank and passes through the coolant thermostat housing.
â?? Coolant then goes through the water pump and into the cylinder block and cylinder heads on the 2.5L vehicles and through the cylinder head and into the cylinder block on 2.0L vehicles.
â?? Coolant then flows out of the engine through the water crossover (2.5L engine) or through the coolant thermostat housing (2.0L engine) to complete the circuit.
Coolant Recovery System
Note:
When the coolant thermostat is closed, there is no flow through the radiator coolant expansion tank.
A pressurized radiator coolant expansion tank system is used which continuously separates the air from the cooling system.
â?? When the coolant thermostat is open, coolant flows through the hose from the bottom of the expansion tank into the radiator lower hose.
â?? The expansion tank separates any trapped air from the cooling system and replenishes the system through its coolant expansion tank hose attached to the water outlet hose.
The expansion tank serves as the location for:
â?? Service fill.
â?? Coolant expansion during warm - up.
â?? System pressurization from the expansion tank cap.
â?? Air separation during operation.
The expansion tank is designed to have approximately 0.5 to 1 liter of air when cold to allow for coolant expansion.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
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