Vehicle is 1996 Maxima, 3.0L V6. Basically did a cooling system refresh-- new coolant, thermostat, several hoses, coolant temp sensor, etc.
Pressure tested the system after reassembly, holds pressure fine, no leaks. Filled up with coolant, and while on a steep incline started up the engine and proceeded to bleed the cooling system by letting it warm up with the radiator cap off. Let it run till it got to operating temp and cooling fans came on (approx 205*), heater is blowing hot air. Let it cool down a bit, reinstalled radiator cap and went for a short test drive, temps climbed up past 200F and I stopped the engine before it got to 210F. Upper cooling hose is hot, lower cooling hose is cool, as is the bottom half of the radiator. I see no movement of the coolant through the radiator fill when the engine running at temp.
I'm a bit puzzled, in the past I've had no issues with bleeding air after servicing the cooling system. I suppose it's not outside the realm of possibility to have gotten a bad thermostat, but I'd like to eliminate all the other possible causes as the thermostat is a bit of a chore to change out.
All the other engines I remember working on have had the thermostat before the inlet side of the radiator (installed at the upper radiator hose). This one has the thermostat after the radiator outlet. Could the cool water on that side be preventing the thermostat from opening? Or does it effectively work the same way no matter which side the thermostat is on? Curious if you folks have any ideas or suggestions / things to check.
Pressure tested the system after reassembly, holds pressure fine, no leaks. Filled up with coolant, and while on a steep incline started up the engine and proceeded to bleed the cooling system by letting it warm up with the radiator cap off. Let it run till it got to operating temp and cooling fans came on (approx 205*), heater is blowing hot air. Let it cool down a bit, reinstalled radiator cap and went for a short test drive, temps climbed up past 200F and I stopped the engine before it got to 210F. Upper cooling hose is hot, lower cooling hose is cool, as is the bottom half of the radiator. I see no movement of the coolant through the radiator fill when the engine running at temp.
I'm a bit puzzled, in the past I've had no issues with bleeding air after servicing the cooling system. I suppose it's not outside the realm of possibility to have gotten a bad thermostat, but I'd like to eliminate all the other possible causes as the thermostat is a bit of a chore to change out.
All the other engines I remember working on have had the thermostat before the inlet side of the radiator (installed at the upper radiator hose). This one has the thermostat after the radiator outlet. Could the cool water on that side be preventing the thermostat from opening? Or does it effectively work the same way no matter which side the thermostat is on? Curious if you folks have any ideas or suggestions / things to check.