Hey guys, new to the forum, got a question. Hope you can help.

[size=18:59a91ea2dd] Posted this on another forum.


[/size:59a91ea2dd]Ok, don't want to beat a dead horse here, but no one really had an answer to my question. First a little background.

Radiator cap bad, pretty much knew that.
Hoses look ok, gonna replace the bottom one anyway just because of age.
Radiator clean and water flows through it perfectly.
Took out the thermostat.
Stuck a water hose in the water pump inlets on the block and water flows freely through both of them.
Stuck the hose in the upper radiator hose and ran water back down through the block, and it flows freely that way.

Ok, here's the question.

With no thermostat, the top radiator hose disconnected from the radiator, the radiator cap off and the radiator full of water, when you start the car with the system open like that, is there anything that will stop the water from circulating and coming out the top radiator hose. Assuming that the water pump is good.???? [/size]

If you know the pump is good, then the only thing I can think of that would not allow water to come out the top hose is the the pump inlet is not getting any water.

Either an air lock, or some type of blockage in the lower hose.

Only the thermostat is supposed to stop the flow. If it is gone you should be getting flow.

There has to be another issue as stated above.

Quote:

I'm assuming the pump is good. Bearing runs nice and smooth, no play at all, pump turns easily, impeller looks good. Held the impeller and tried to turn the pulley to see if the impeller was slipping on the shaft, not slipping at all.

There are no blockages anywhere, so seems like air lock is the answer. I just have one question about that. If the radiator was full but the bottom hose had air in it, wouldn't the pump pull the water out of the radiator??

Thanks for the help.