Thermostat testing

[Celeb]

So after a cam swap, my car starts overheating. With car warm, upper radiator hose as well as lower radiator hose stone cold. Radiator as well, and heat stopped working. (Well it comes and goes) When the heater rarely works, the engine temp cools off but goes back to cold when engine runs hot.

Bench tested the old one and while it opened, it seems to barely open, maybe 1/8". New one opened almost twice that.

Haven't cranked the car yet, waiting for some permatex to dry. Probable culpret though based on the symptoms?

 

[timeless2]

No heating issues whatsoever prior to the cam swap?

 

[Celeb]

No heating issues whatsoever prior to the cam swap?

Nope, heater worked fine and engine remained cool. Perhaps some type of debris made it's way to the tstat while I had the engine open (scraping off old gaskets etc) Installed a new water pump as well. Old one worked but it made an awful racket.

 

[timeless2]

Next, check for air in the system. Burp time.

 

[Celeb]

Hopefully the new tstat fixes it. If not I'm worried that my new water pump isn't moving water. I'm wondering if there's a bench test for that. Maybe pull the smaller hoses off the top of the pump and get someone to bump the engine?

Good call on burping the system also.

 

[timeless2]

T-stat is an easy, cheap fix...if it's truly the culprit. Rule out those really easy ones first, then go from there.

 

[HISSIN50]

If you don't have one, a burping funnel makes burping the system a little easier and a smidge safer. I always run the cars for a bit with no rad cap installed (this is where the funnel can help). Otherwise the buried air has a tough time surfacing.......

I also like Tim's thoughts on the stat. FWIW, air in the system can damage the pellet (especially true on a non-balanced stat). That could be another reason the old one went south.

Good luck bud.