Purging air from cooling system
 

I'm in the process of idle tuning my Adaptronic and my coolant temps are hitting 85C, the fan is kicking on and the temps keep going up. I shut the car off when they hit 96 C (about 200*) This is with a new Koyo that I put in. I assume that there is air in the system locking it up. The upper radiator hose is squishy and cool when the fan kicks on at 185*. I assume the thermostat is opening as I drove the car right up to the point where I started the turbo build. The radiator is barely warm. Turbo lines are hot. The thermostat housing is hot but the hose side is cool.

What's the best way to purge the system?

I was told to run the car with the cap off for 15min or so, and keep topping it off. Worked for me, saw lots o bubbles come up/out.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Remove the radiator cap, put a floor jack under the front end, pick it up as high as you can. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Add water because some air has came out and it's now low. Drop front end 1/2 way and run the motor with the heater on at about 2500 RPMs.

I did this last time I had to fill the cooling system and for the first time ever, it got all the air out and didn't overheat on me. I was amazed.

I just let it run with the heater blaring until it's up to temp with the cap off. My parking spot has a but of an incline anyway or I pull the car on ramps. Same as everyone else, let it reach temp and top it off.

Yeah, I had the cap on. It's still on jackstands, so I'll drop the rear and let it burp.

BTW, the Apdaptronic IS PnP, and realtively easy to tune. Got the idle cells done and starting on no load tuning to 3K. Hope to start auto tuning on the road--maybe yet today. Looks like a good ECU.

i just flushed mine recently. from cold, take the rad cap off and start the car. turn the heater on. you can blip the throttle and it'll pump faster. make sure you wait til the T-stat opens too. it might take 10-15 minutes to get up to temp. keep filling as it warms up. watch that you dont over-fill. though if you leave a funnel in there (and the funnel has a little water in it), it's ok. ... because...

when you shut the car off and let it sit, it should suck that water back in.

cap it and fill your reservoir.

good to go!

swirlpot + test = nguyen

No need to turn the heater on. Coolant circulates through the Miata heater full time.

I once randomly met a guy named Nguyen Nguyen. he had quite the positive demeanor. turns out he worked with a friend at Cisco.

Aha, that'll make it easier on hot days. I was thinking Ford Escort from 1983.