How do things look now? Finished radiator flush and put in new thermostat

In the last video, the car overheated when doing a radiator flush. See more in the original video here:
• End of the road for th...
It took a week to get a new thermostat and gasket. In this video, I put the car back together and we see how things look 🙂
One of the lessons I learned was how to fill the coolant properly. The cooling system for the OM603 takes a full 10 liters. This time, I filled the block using the upper radiator hose first and got nearly 6 liters in there. Then I got the expansion tank filled, let everything sit with the cap off. Took my time and filled expansion tank as bubbles rose out and level went down.
Then - the moment of truth. Car is turned on and brought up to operating temp. See how it runs for yourself!
I give an update after driving it around and then an update tonight (just over 1 week after finishing the flush/thermostat replacement).
Intro (0:00)
What went wrong in the last video (0:43)
How to tell what number head you have on OM603 (2:29)
Under the car - looking at the thermostat (3:25)
Thermostat removed (4:49)
Thermostat reinstalled - after putting coolant in (5:56)
Starting the car (7:16)
Checking systems with engine on (7:43)
Checking engine temp - it's low; ~45C (8:53)
Start working the throttle (9:16)
Temp at 80C - things looking good (9:33)
After a 20 mile road trip (10:53)
One week and 90 miles later - how does it look? (11:51)
Engine started and running (12:42)
Overview of the inside - new dash and refinished wood (13:03)
Watching the engine again outside (14:30)
Outro - thanks for watching (14:49)

[@rioraton]

Great Job!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Outstanding. You're back in business. I had no idea the OM-series motors thermostat is so buried. I'm used to the M102.103 & 104 gasoline motors where it sits right on top, easy to get at.

[@bsclifton]

Same! 🙂 With the M104 when doing a radiator flush, I usually just leave the thermostat out until things are cleaned out. With this one (as you can see from the used gasket) the gasket is used to make the seal, so you can't run without a thermostat. The shop manuals call for a special part number which is always open (which is like $150 or I'd have bought it already)
Thanks for your interest, has been great to share these updates with people who are active! I really enjoy your videos too

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

I got it figured out.
On the passenger side of the expansion tank there is a small hose that goes to the top of the block above the radiator hose. I call it the bleeder or air escape hose. That pipe is BLOCKED. Blocked because someone inevitably installed fuel hose instead of coolant/brake hose and the inside is swollen.
When u successfully added coolant by pouring it down the upper hose u were allowing the air to escape. U could have removed the upper hose and poured the coolant into the expansion tank until it started to fill the upper radiator hose.
ASAP replace this bleeder hose because air may be building up in the upper radiator hose and top of the radiator.
Good luck.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Next time remove the "ball" from the thermostat's upper plate. Its a one-way valve. Awesome. When u do the transmission oil drain the torque converter.

[@bsclifton]

Good call- I can just drill out that ball from the old thermostat and keep it for doing flushes in the future. Thanks for the tip on torque converter - looking at getting those parts now (new drain plugs, washers, pan gasket, filter, maybe new pan) from mboemparts.com. And thanks again for staying tuned 🙂