HELP!!! Car running hot!

[Wylde Horses]

Usually, my car runs somewhere between the N and the O on the temperature gauge. On my way home tonight (10 minute drive) it went as high as the L. by the time I got home it had dropped to the A. When I popped the hood, there was a little coolant around the cap on the overflow tank and the upper radiator hose was warm.

Last night I flushed the coolant, and seeing as I'm heading to the track Friday, added only water with a little cooling system treatment. I followed the directions in the Haynes manual except I couldn't locate the coolant plugs on the actual engine block, so I only drained and flushed through the little radiator release valve.

Thoughts on what could be the problem? Could I have an airlock somewhere? How do I check for that and get rid of it? Could there be something else blocking the coolant passages? Ideas?

Thanks.

 

[RandomName211]

Your thermostat is probably stuck. I would check that first.

 

[SVTHorsnake]

Originally posted by RandomName211
Your thermostat is probably stuck. I would check that first.

and then I would post in the SN95 section... :beer:

 

[Wylde Horses]

Originally posted by SVTHorsnake
and then I would post in the SN95 section... :beer:

Yeah, tell me where our cars differ in terms of the cooling system? ;-) I found the problem: an air lock in the coolant crossover tube. You got one of those too, don'tcha? :kaboom: