Replaced thermostat and gasket and it still overheats.

Bottom hose refuses to get warm, but there is coolant in the hose.

 

need to start looking at a gage, sending unit problem.

 

The reason I do not think it's the gauge is because when it does go over the halfway mark and I turn the blower/heat all the way up, it goes back down to below half.

 

A few things to go on here....are you sure the air is out of the cooling system.....yes, no? Did you do this with the heat set to MAX? T-stat in the correct way, pin up, "plug" towards engine....sorry have to ask.

On a cold start, remove the rad cap and start engine......any bubbles?

 

Doesn't sound like the thermostat opened yet. I would recommend revving the engine some, not too excessive though, to help warm up the car and get the thermostat to open. Usually when the thermostat finally opens, you will start also see some big air pockets out of the radiator top. After that, let it go a while more to make sure most of the air comes out.

Remember to have the heater turn up to max temp. while purging.

Although not necessary, I like using the Lisle no-spill funnel to purge air out of the cooling system.

"http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LIL-24610"

 

All air is out of the cooling system, I even bled the system with the front end jacked up to get any small air pockets out as well. Thermostat is 100% installed correctly. I even tested both of them and they work great. Heat was all the way turned up to the max. I did start it with the rad cap off and no air bubbles. I would wait for the thermostat to open, but when it's at 3/4 up on the gauge you don't really have the ***** to let it run any longer, at least I don't! I know what I should be looking for as far as the thermostat opening, but it just simply isn't.

I am completely baffled.

 

Generally, if the thermostat doesn't open, then there would still be air pockets trapped in the cooling system.

 

I just went and took some video, not sure if it's helpful or not.

Should I just run it a day or two without a thermostat and see if it starts to overheat?

Like I said, I already tested both of the stats and they are both working properly.

As I said previously, I do have the fan switch on the thermostat housing jumped so that the fans run all of the time.

d47728c6.mp4 video by nrmskate101 - Photobucket

3325576c.mp4 video by nrmskate101 - Photobucket

 

I would take the thermostat out and purge out any possible remaining air pockets. Then put the radiator cap back on and run without the thermostat to at least see if the temp. gauge shows normal.

 

Is that video taken with the thermoswitch electrical connector jumped and are both fans running?