After flushing my coolant and swapping thermostats I think I've got a problem :\

I can't seem to find a torque spec for the radiator drain plug. It looks like I may have sprung a leak from that area. It could also possibly be overflow that I'm seeing.

The car ran fine.. the stock guage was reporting slightly lower temps... When I shut the car off it make kind of a weird "girgle" then I smelled hot coolant.

Anyone had an issue like this?

 

Probably air in your cooling system burping out.

 

I tightened the plug finger tight and then went 1/2 a turn with a wrench. As for the gurgle, I had to "burp" the system when I replaced my radiator and coolant. I filled the system, let it idle for 20 minutes with the heater on high, let the car cool completley, topped off the fluid. This got rid of the gurgling sound and the hot coolant smell. Dont worry, both the gurgling sound and smell of hot coolant are perfectly normal (remember, your heater core is powered by hot coolant).

 

Yeah I tried to get all the air out but this was the first real drive I've been on since the change.. I'll keep a close eye on it for a little bit to be sure it's ok.

 

just sounds like you may have overfilled a bit or had some air lurking around, think you'll be ok.

 

I think the issue is resolved but I'm going to check again for leaks later today.

Edit: everything seems to be dry now Car is running great with the 71c thermostat.

 

did you ad the Ralliart one?

 

Yes