and just wondering if it is possible to overheat your engine without realizing it? I used a Lisle radiator funnel to fill as I ran the engine without the bleeder screws open and watched for air bubbles as it took the coolant in bit by bit. For some reason I overlooked opening the manifold screw when initially refilling the radiator. I noticed that it seemed to take quite a few minutes for the fans to cut on and get hot hot air out of the heater but once they kicked on it was instantly better. I am assuming that is the moment the thermostat opened and chased the air out of the heater core, so after the fact I am wondering if I was sitting there running the engine without coolant hitting the temp sensor and perhaps causing damage? Or am I just being paranoid?

 

Fwiw I noticed the temp bars never climbed above 3 the whole time

 

Nevermind...just realized it was a stupid question since coolant does bypass the termostat even when closed...

 

Do a site search, Billman has a really great DIY on this. He even mentions how to watch for overheating. Once and done is not good.