Good evening. I have a 04 3500 that i just replaced the water pump on. I replaced the fluid but only half of the amount i took out went back in. My temp is hotter than normall also heat is not working. Any suggestions? thanks

 

Yep, you have an air bubble somewhere in the system preventing you from filling it. I have made it a habit when refilling cooling systems on most vehicles, to disconnect something high up on the system to give air a place to escape as I pour in the coolant. Whether I remove a bleed screw, temperature sensor, or loosen a heater hose, it makes a big difference in getting all the coolant in, and prevents engine damage too. Just pour coolant into the rad until it starts coming out at the heater hose (or whatever you disconnected) then reconnect it and finish topping up the rad. At that point you can run the engine until the thermostat opens, then let the engine cool, recheck the level, and top off as needed.


I can't remember what the best way is on a third gen, but look around and you'll see a place to vent the cooling system.

 

The best and easiest plug to remove is the allen plug that is in the top of the head a few inches back from the thermostat. Remove the plug and fill the radiator until the coolant comes out the hole, put the plug back in then finish filling the radiator.

When I changed my water pump I saved the coolant and all but about 1 gallon whould not go back in. The procedure above was the only way I got the rest of the coolant back in the engine.

 

I removed the plug and poured the coolant/water in radiator and it took it and heat is now working. Thanks for the help