im about to go add coolant to my radiator. do i start the car with the cap off, (it hasnt been ran in a few days) and then pour fluid in until its full, then let it run for a sec to clear the bubbles and then put the cap on WHILE the car is still running? is this how you do it? im always cautious about these kind of things.

 

if possible put the front end of the car on ramps or stands. turn the car on with or without the cap doesnt matter. take the cap off. fill the rad. make sure you wait until your car reaches about 200* before you stop filling cause your t stat doesnt open (factory) until about 195*, which means there could be air behind it.

 

yeah i have nothing that i can put the car on for that. now i let it get hot after i fill it up???? i always thought that it would be not safe to do that because of pressure..... or is that when the cap is on? and pressure builds up

can someone make the steps into doing this right

 

200* damn. mine doesn't even reach 160. and i have a 180 thermostat.

 

so it should suck the coolant down when it gets to the max temp to open the t stat? then fill it up to the top again and let it run for a min. or two and then shut it off?

 

What I always do is fill it with as much as I can then start the car with the cap off and let it heat up. When the level starts going down I pour more in. I also flush it this way. but sometimes Ill leave the raditor drain cracked open.