I am having a cooling issue with my 96 GT. I cracked my intake and had to replace it. I have also replaced my water pump, belt and thermostat. I keep getting pressure built up and it kicks the coolant out through the cap.

I bought some KW block seal today thinking the pressure is due to a broken head gasket but when I was warming my car up the upper rad hose is hot at the thermostat but at the radiator it is ice cold. I pulled the thermostat and now the entire upper hose is warm. Is the pressure buildup maybe air locking my thermostat?

I am really hoping this block seal fixes the problem but does anyone have any other ideas of what the problem would be? I want to take this one to Alabama for the 45th but if it isnt going to be reliable I will have to take one of the other two.

 

sounds like you have air somewhere in the system and its not circulating the coolant. That or the thermostat isnt working properly. Make sure you burp all the air out and check that Tstat!

 

Have you had youre radiator flushed???, sometimes the problem is simpler than you might think, you would be suprised to see how much crap they can get out of it. I would reccomend doing that before wasting any more money in something more expensive.

 

The radiator is new as we had a slight malfunction which destroyed my core support and radiator. It is about 6 months old. Flow does seem to be a problem though. I am flushing the system clean right now and am still getting coolant out of it.

 

Well I would go no thermostat for a while and see what happens.

Even though a new water pump have you checked it to see that it's actually pumping the fluid?

 

I have flow when I have the thermostat out of it but it doesnt seem to open up with the thermostat in it. I have 4 new thermostats on my shelf right now so it has to be something different. The parts guys say that they think the thermostat is getting air locked from the pressure and not opening to let the coolant flow.

 

Well I have the KW block seal in it now and am driving it and I sure hope it helps solve my problem but I am thinking about what next if it doesnt.

 

Probably a stupid question, but are you sure your not installing the thermostat upside down?