How do I properly burp my cooling system?...TURTCEL

[TURTCEL]

So I just finished replacing most of the cooling system due to an unknown rise in my temp guage (only to the top of the thermometer symbol at highest). I installed a new heavy duty cooling radiator (replaced a newer single core), new Toyota thermostat, water pump, belts, hoses, and coolant. The temp runs cooler than it ever has and doesn't get above the squiggly water line at the bottom of the thermo symbol now.

My question in reguards to the job is that will I be ok having installed an o-ring with a thin coat of grey RTV in place of the factory cork o-ring gasket that seals between the block and the water pump assembly? I did not realize that it was cork until I picked it out. The seal seems to be working just fine but will it last?

Has anyone else relaced this gasket with anything else besides the cork o-ring gasket? My worry is that is will not last or might soften with heat and cause a leak. Not likely that it would happen but I don't want to get my new timing belt wet with coolant and it is a big job the repalce that seal if I have to go back in there.

I replaced all the gaskets and o-ringa associated with the job as well and there are no leaks as of the first warm up and test drive. I will check the coolant level eveyday for the first week to make sure the job is holding and look for visible signs of coolant leaks. I really believe all will be fine.

My wife is going to drive to California and then to Seattle at the end of Feb so I don't mind the fact that the cooling system is top notch for a long trip like that.

Should any air bubbles in the system work themselves out or will I have to do something besides squeezing both upper and lower hoses to burp and make sure that the heater is turned on too? The system is cycling good but to keep from blowing coolant all over the place I didn't run it with the cap off for a very long time.

Peace

[dlb]

yes, the paper gasket should be fine. some people even go with just RTV, no gasket. not me, but it's been done.

yes, small air pockets should work themselves out of the system with several good drives reaching full operating temps. just check the rad and overflow levels while the car is cold for the next week and top up as necessary and it should be good to go.

[xirdneh]

i recently ordered the water pump to block "o" ring from the local Toyota dealer
it was not cork
it is rubber
i have also used rubber "o" rings that i picked out of assortment box at local parts stores
i have never had one fail yet
some have been in the cars for over ten years

[TURTCEL]

Sweet, glad to hear that I should be all good. I was a little worried snce I was doing something that I wasn't sure if it would work or not. Glad you have had the same good luck with o-rings that I was hoping for.

I will keep an eye on the cooling system for awhile until I confirm that all is well.

Peace

[TURTCEL]

So I have driven the Terc on a few long highway drives and a lot of in and around town trips. For the first 2 days after the cooling system install I had to add coolant. Since then I have had to add nothing and the overflow tank is at the correct level.

This confirms to me that there are no leaks and the air bubbles are out of the system now. For the first few drives the needle would actually bounce around from a locked in air bubble at the sensor...that is gone.

The o-ring that I installed between the water pump and the block is holding beautifully...was my only real concern.

Since the cooling system replacement the needle only goes up to a max of the squiggly line at the bottom of the thermometer symbol and usually runs around only above a 1/4 the way up on the guage. I am planning on moving to California in the next month or month and half so the extra cooling will be nice for the warmer weather.

Thanks again for all the reassurance on my custom used parts being the regular replacement techniques anyways, took the stress out of waiting to see if a problem arose.

Peace

[4doorVIP]

Thats really good news to hear man I'm glad you're back on the road. I think small initial leaks are fairly normal as the new gaskets settle themselves in