Trouble With Water Refilling

[Courthouse/Tom]

Hello,ive just been emptying my radiator to relenish with new water/antifreeze.I drained the radiator by removing the bottom hose,and the engine part by removing the rear drain plug.Flushed out the radiator,re-connected up,and started to refill.
So far,so good !!. However,ive only been able to put 5.5 pints back into it. Ive started him up and all seems well,heater working,etc.But i just cant get any more water in. Any ideas please,whats gone wrong ?. [frame][/frame]

[les]

It's probably full up! Don't forget the rad will still have had water left in it and the block will, maybe the heater matrix as well.

[mike.perry]

Next time you have the radiator out get a drain tap fitted, it's a lot easier than removing the bottom hose.
Run the engine and check the level again when water has been pumped through all the hoses. If it is running ok and the heater is working just keep an eye on the level which you should do anyway.

[Courthouse/Tom]

Thanks for your help,chaps !!.
I've just noticed that the bottom hose and bottom of the radiator is staying cold.Time to look at the thermostat,methinks ??.

[bmcecosse]

Not necessarily - that's normal - the radiator is doing it's job! Is the top hose hot - and is the heater effective ? If the top hose was to stay cold - that's when I would worry about the stat.

[mike.perry]

It is worth checking that the bottom of the radiator is not full of sediment

[Courthouse/Tom]

The top hose is hot,and the heater is working.I think perhaps i was worrying too much,about nothing.
Thanks again for everyones help !!.

[rayofleamington]

certainly at this time of year, the radiator bottom hose isn't going to get hot unless you do some really extreme driving.
Your water pump is working otherwise the heater woul;dn't get flow.
To get a bit more confidence that the water is flowing through the radiator, then rev the engine when thermostat is open and watch through the filler hole to see the flow from the top hose into the radiator.

In your case I wouldn't expect any problem, as you've already flushed the rad. Checking for flow is most worthwhile on a car where you don't know the history and/or gives strange overheating problems if you drive any distance.