cooling system help?

[TPS240sxS13]

To start off i have a 93 S13 hatch with KA24DE. I replaced the radiator yesterday cause the last one busted. I fill it up with water, cause i didn't have any coolant. when i am driving it stays around normal but if i sit at a light too long or use my a/c it heats up.I work at a Valvoline and my plan was to do a coolant flush at work today, but when i hooked up the machine to the upper radiator hose and the radiator it ran for two seconds and stopped. The upper radiator hose swelled up and looked like it was about to explode. What could have caused this? My manger thinks it might be the thermostat but the one i have doesn't have a lot of miles on it. either way i bought a new thermostat but is there anything else i should look at?

[PinkPanther]

You most likely have air bubbles in your cooling system, its very common in nissans. raise the front end of your car like a foot, take your radiator cap off, turn your heater controls on full blast and full hot and run the engine 10-15 minutes.

[TPS240sxS13]

Thanks, I will try that.

[redsx13]

To start off i have a 93 S13 hatch with KA24DE. I replaced the radiator yesterday cause the last one busted. I fill it up with water, cause i didn't have any coolant. when i am driving it stays around normal but if i sit at a light too long or use my a/c it heats up.I work at a Valvoline and my plan was to do a coolant flush at work today, but when i hooked up the machine to the upper radiator hose and the radiator it ran for two seconds and stopped. The upper radiator hose swelled up and looked like it was about to explode. What could have caused this? My manger thinks it might be the thermostat but the one i have doesn't have a lot of miles on it. either way i bought a new thermostat but is there anything else i should look at?

sounds like you have a clog in your system, radiator maybe. the upper line is the return line from your motor.

[lilrusty]

sounds like bubbles. stock s13 thermostats dont really open up till about 195 degrees. so you actually have to sit for a while till that thing opens up to take more coolant. get a lower temp one and leave heater on for about ten min. pink panther was right about raising the car up. another way is to run the car without the thermostat to see if you still overheat...

[ArmadaJspec]

To start off i have a 93 S13 hatch with KA24DE. I replaced the radiator yesterday cause the last one busted. I fill it up with water, cause i didn't have any coolant. when i am driving it stays around normal but if i sit at a light too long or use my a/c it heats up.I work at a Valvoline and my plan was to do a coolant flush at work today, but when i hooked up the machine to the upper radiator hose and the radiator it ran for two seconds and stopped. The upper radiator hose swelled up and looked like it was about to explode. What could have caused this? My manger thinks it might be the thermostat but the one i have doesn't have a lot of miles on it. either way i bought a new thermostat but is there anything else i should look at?

Burp the system ( to completely get all bubbles out: also put interior heat on high while you burp the system )

[Bigsyke]

Putting the heating fan on full blast will nto get the bubbles out, you need the thermostat to open up fully to get the bubbles out. Putting the heater on hot is what you need to do.


However you can bleed it for hours, you will never get the bubbles out. You need a snap on bleeder kit, or a swirl tank.