Need help trouble shooting

[Wfo]

All valid points. I drained and refilled using the vacuum tool. I put vacuum on the system for a few minutes before I did the refill. I'm aware that the rad doesn’t lower temps. I may go to a 180 thermostat. The temp didn’t seem to get as hot before the rad install.

 

[Jace21583]

a few weeks ago I installed a full race radiator and transmission cooler. It’s been running hot so today I drained coolant and used the vacuum fill method, Still same temps. It’s 70deg out and truck is jumping up to 210+. When I feel the lower hose on the driver side it’s cool, just above the double inline T that has 2 hoses going to the side of the oil filter it’s hot as hell. The hose on the passenger side is also hot. The driver side rad end tank is also cool while the passenger side is Hot. Full race and I are stumped. Could it be the thermostat? All ports / nipples were clear before I did the install. Can anyone offer advice? It’s a pain in the ass to change this out to the oem rad.

Regardless of the outside temp my truck always runs around 210° plus or minus 5°

 

[Wfo]

I checked to radiator this morning before work and it was super low, expansion tank had proper level. I thought the vacuum fill was supposed to fill 100%. Considering buying a vacuum system so I don’t have to depend on my friend.

 

[TurboTJ]

Any updates? Did you find the problem?

 

[Jeff-Ohio]

Just throwing this out there...the radiator fans connectors are plugged back in right?

On that note, I have a friend from high school that did some work on an old Camaro and had the same issue which had him stumped for weeks. As it turns out, I believe he had the fan blades in wrong and not pushing air towards the radiator.

 

[Wfo]

Any updates? Did you find the problem?

I have installed a spd 180 deg thermostat. I think there is still air in the system. Every morning I open the radiator cap and fluid is a couple inches down. When I open the cap on the expansion tank the coolant level comes back up to radiator cap level. I’m seeing highway temps 210/215 with 50deg temps cruising 80/85. Temp rises quickly when on the throttle but comes down almost as quick when off the throttle.

 

[Wfo]

Fan is functioning properly.

 

[TurboTJ]

I would grab an infrared thermometer and start probing across the radiator to make sure it’s all at the same temp. If, for example the left is 30 degrees cooler that the right, there may be a flow blockage. You could also take a picture of the radiator with the FLIR iPhone thermal camera. Pretty sweet toy.

 

[xrocket21]

smells like a possible headgasket? Just a small leak?

 

[SilverBolt]

Have you tried a test without any thermostat? If you get even temps then you likely have an air bubble issue when the stat is in place. If your temps are still not even it may be a water pump/flow issue.