Hello, I recently got an assembled fuel injected 302 put into a truck. The problem I have is the block is completely drained of any coolant. So is the new radiator. So to keep the engine from overheating and let the radiator put in coolant, the thermostat must detect the water's temperature being too hot but if water isn't in the block it can't do this. Is there a place in the water pump or somewhere else I can add coolant directly into the engine? Or am i going about this wrong? Thanks.

 

the coolant will flow from the rad into the lower hose, and then into the engine

 

That is true on a lot of vehicles, probably the majority of vehicles. For instance on my '88 F-150 with the 6 cylinder engine, some coolant will get into the engine that way but if I don't use a little trick I learned I have to idle the engine to overheating before the thermostat will open to finish filling the block and head.

The trick I learned remove the top heater hose at the engine end and add coolant to the radiator until it flows out of disconnected hose connection, this will purge the air out.

Tracy: Keep track of how much coolant you add. I would guess about 4 and one half gallons should fill it. Then idle the engine while watching the temperature gauge with the heater on high. You will likely need to add a bit more coolant after carefully removing the radiator cap or letting the engine cool.

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Fill through one of the heater hoses. When it starts coming out the radiator neck, put the cap on & finish filling until it starts coming out the open heater core nipple.

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