Coolant Bleed Question
So I've replaced my water pump and thermostat. Everything's back together. I've read all the good posts I can find about bleeding the coolant, and just got back from the garage after my first attempt. Admittedly, I'm still not sure what I'm doing .
We opened the bleed screw on the thermostat and began filling the tank. After about a gallon-and-a-half, the tank began to fill. The bleed screw didn't show any activity. I squeezed the upper radiator hose a few times, and heard air wheezing out the hole. Eventually I was able to get a few drops of coolant to shoot out, but never got a steady stream.
We fired up the engine with the tank cap open. After about 5 minutes, the coolant in the tank rose to the top, at which point we turned off the engine. The coolant immediately dropped back down.
So... what next? I thought the coolant expanded due to heat, but why didn't it drain out the bleed screw? And why did it drop down immediately after turning off the engine?
If it makes any different, the front of the car is still jacked up. It's a 535i, M30 engine.
Thanks for helping a newbie!
Norman
'89 535i, 225000 miles, family owned... Williamsburg, VA