Coolant flowing backwards

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Lesbest

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02 Sunfire 2200 engine. NO thermostat in housing. Belt routing according to decal. W/P should be turning correctly. Coolant should come from bottom hose to radiator-thru rad-out to head.
Thermostat only fits in housing one way, with the pill toward engine-which means the hot water would come out the lower hose into the radiator.
But the coolant is flowing OUT of the head which would push the COOL water on the wrong side of the themostat.

Any help or ideas, wrong belt routing,(pump rotating wrong). thermostat doesn't go into housing it look like it belongs in?

Thanks, Les

Sorry 98 2.2L engine.
 
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are you sure you have the correct thermostat? how are you determining waterflow direction on a hot engine?
 
Substituted a clear tube from the pipe to the upper rad. hose to radiator. Clear tube from heater core outlet to the 5/8 fitting at tube. Start engine and it flows from the tube to the radiator upper outlet--which would be ok if the thermostat was in the upper hose.

The thermostat is in the lower hose- so flow should be coming back to the engine thru the upper hose. Hot water out, cold water in.

10-15 min. overheats.

According to decal, and confirmed with belt manual, belt is on correctly.
Water flow indicates the w/p is turning the wrong way?

Thanks, Les
 
The water flows out the top hose throught the radiator, then back to the motor through the bottom hose.
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according to this write up the water does enter the radiator from the bottom hose but why are you not using a thermostat and what made you think of placing clear tubing in the cooling circuit to view water flow? were you having any problems? www.ehow.com/how_7166213_do-replace-thermostat-2_2l_.html
 
1. Engine overheats, Why? No circulation, head gasket failure, coolant fan not running, etc.
2. Never tear down an engine for exploratory reasons, always know what's wrong BEFORE tear down.
3. Took out thermostat to check and replace, put housing back on to check circulation, good or bad, bad needs water pump.
4. Pressurized each cylinder with air and watched coolant for bubbles, would indicate a failure of a gasket, or crack in head, cylinder wall.
5. Belt routing checked for correctness, clear hose installed to SEE coolant movement.

Results:
I know the engine overheats, I KNOW the pump moves water, I KNOW the head gasket is ok, I KNOW the thermostat should go into the engine with the wax pill toward the hot water, and I KNOW the coolant should COME from the thermostat and GO towards the radiator.

BUT, the coolant is flowing from the radiator TO the top of the thermostat which would be backwards.

Any answers?

Thanks, Les
 
the only component that moves the water is the pump, how long have you had the car? long enough that originally it did not overheat and nobody has worked on the car other than yourself or a mechanic you know? If so something has happend to the impeller in the pump.
 
first do a pressure check.
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Sorry for delay in reply. A second new thermostat fixed the O/H problem. Don't over do problem. Thanks for the help. Can get back to life again.
Les
 
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