P38A New radiator

Sonnycbr said:

The story so far....broke plastic inlet to radiator from expansion tank. Fixed with plastic metal, lasted 3 months. Weekend away in car resulted in total loss of coolant when temporary fix came adrift. Ordered new radiator on Monday, arrived today, fitted this afternoon.
There were no leaks when I filled up the system although I didn't get anything like the amount that RAVE said it would take. I assume this is because I didn't remove the drain plug from the block. Took the car for a run and after about 1 mile the temp shot up into the red and stayed there, limped home. I topped the system up again and ran the engine at 2000 rpm for a few minutes with the top off the expansion tank, it boiled over.
I let the engine cool right down and topped up again, took car out and the temp gauge stayed at 12 o clock. I've just looked under the car and there's a pool of coolant which has came from the expansion tank overflow.
Any ideas where I'm going wrong? It's not the thermostat is it?

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Datatek said:

Probably an airlock. Petrol or diesel? It can be difficult to get all the air out of the system, I always raise the front of the car, rapid squeezing and releasing of the hoses can help.
As for the coolant under the car, either a leak, have you tightened the drain plug in the new RAD? Air in the system, or you over filled it.

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Sonnycbr said:

Result!! I did as you suggested, took the car for a 4 mile blast and the temp gauge never moved from 12, came back and the coolant level is perfect, thanks again Data.

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