Slight Squeak + Bubbling sound? New Blunt Tech Radiator

[Santawillis]

First HOT day in Illinois in a while and after getting a new exhaust it allowed me to actually listen to some novel sounds. Not sure what to make of these that are coming predominantly from the front of the engine, no weeping from water pump.

 

Radiator is a new Blunt Tech high efficiency model.

[Mike Self]

Recently (just) installed the radiator?  A bubbling sound may be air escaping because the cooling system wasn't completely bled.  Bleeding is made more difficult because of the heater core and the heater valve.  That valve should be open while bleeding, and you need to run the car long enough to get the thermostat fully open.  If you get warm air out of the heater, you've probably got it bled, but even then it may take a couple of tries to get all the air out.  The whistling sound may be the radiator cap opening  as the system pressurizes and excess captive air bleeds out.  You should leave the cap off, or at least loose 'till you know all the air has been bled out.

 

mike

[Santawillis]

Hi Mike,

 

Recently installed as of winter time, my heater is currently non functioning which made the bleeding process very difficult. I will try to get the front of the car elevated to see if I can burp it more effectively.

 

Temps are good which is the important bit but hearing new noises is always an experience

[Mike Self]

When you say the heater is non functioning, have you taken it out of the cooling system by running a bypass hose from the heater core's inlet nipple on the block to its outer (return) nipple on the back of the head?  If so, bleeding should be pretty easy.  But if the heater is still in the system--especially if you have a heater valve that's stuck closed, it's gonna be a bitch to bleed properly.

 

Mike

 

 

[Santawillis]

Mike,

That is a negatory, heater controls are very dead, so is the fan. I suspect wiring as my radio is completely removed as well as my center console. I was planning on yanking the dash this winter to tackle bypassing the heater core but that is in my to do list

 

Now that the car is able to make short trips it's been fun to get to know the car, especially after getting rid of my E30 to fund the project, so I am hopeful it will continue to be able to make small trips before the summer comes to an end!

[Son of Marty]

There's no need to pull the dash to do anything with the heater box, unlike most newer cars.