Hey guys!
I need to change the thermostat on both my 96 K1500, and my mother's 2003 Tahoe.
My truck has a 4.3L and it's thermostat is opening prematurely, which is keeping the truck at approx 160F regardless of the temperature outside. I just recently took a 200 mile trip (320km) at 75 mph (120km/h) and the truck ran that temp the whole way, even when the engine was working hard towing a reasonably heavy load up some hills at 3000 rpm in 3rd gear for a minute or two. I know that the temperature gauge is reasonably accurate, as the truck's heater is not putting out much heat. I have enough to keep my windshield defrosted, and my hands from freezing running the vents, but I am by no means warm.
The Tahoe has a 5.3L and it's thermostat is sticking wide open, which is keeping the engine running very cold, enough that the needle does not come up off the lowest temp, or does it make enough heat to warm the cabin at all. My poor mother has to dress for -40F just to keep warm while driving. She has just enough heat to defrost the windshield.
Anyways, my big concern is with mucking around with the dex-cool that both trucks have in them. I've heard that if you are not careful with bleeding all of the air out of the cooling system, it can gel up plugging the whole thing off. Is there some special procedure to bleeding the air out of either engine?
The 2003 does not even have a rad cap, just the overflow bottle on the fender. My 96 does have a cap, but I've never opened it in fear of introducing air into the system...
I'd love to get some heat going in my truck, and I'm sure my mother would like her's fixed too, so any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!
I need to change the thermostat on both my 96 K1500, and my mother's 2003 Tahoe.
My truck has a 4.3L and it's thermostat is opening prematurely, which is keeping the truck at approx 160F regardless of the temperature outside. I just recently took a 200 mile trip (320km) at 75 mph (120km/h) and the truck ran that temp the whole way, even when the engine was working hard towing a reasonably heavy load up some hills at 3000 rpm in 3rd gear for a minute or two. I know that the temperature gauge is reasonably accurate, as the truck's heater is not putting out much heat. I have enough to keep my windshield defrosted, and my hands from freezing running the vents, but I am by no means warm.
The Tahoe has a 5.3L and it's thermostat is sticking wide open, which is keeping the engine running very cold, enough that the needle does not come up off the lowest temp, or does it make enough heat to warm the cabin at all. My poor mother has to dress for -40F just to keep warm while driving. She has just enough heat to defrost the windshield.
Anyways, my big concern is with mucking around with the dex-cool that both trucks have in them. I've heard that if you are not careful with bleeding all of the air out of the cooling system, it can gel up plugging the whole thing off. Is there some special procedure to bleeding the air out of either engine?
The 2003 does not even have a rad cap, just the overflow bottle on the fender. My 96 does have a cap, but I've never opened it in fear of introducing air into the system...
I'd love to get some heat going in my truck, and I'm sure my mother would like her's fixed too, so any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!
