Do all this with the engine cold and the car on level ground or facing slightly uphill. Do your thermostat replacement or whatever service is needed. Fill the radiator with coolant. Leave the cap off. Set the heater for full hot and start the engine. Go back out to the radiator and add more coolant as necessary to keep it completely full. As the engine starts to warm up the radiator will overflow. Put the cap on at that point and leave it (as you have said, never take the cap off unless the engine is cold). Make sure there is coolant in the plastic tank.

You should be done at that point. Test drive the car until it fully warms up, then park it and let it cool off fully. Check that the plastic tank and the radiator are still full.

 

i heard you can drive it without a thermostat till i get one

 

No, don't drive without a thermostat.

 

what will happen, becuase its either i
A. dont drive at all
B. find money to get a new one
C. find another way to drive it safely

 

Proper engine cooling relies on the thermostat to dramatically slow coolant flow through the engine. You risk overheating the engine if you run without a thermostat. Overheating risks destroying an engine ($$$).

 

so A for the win?

 

A or B.

I don't know what C means.

 

Dude dont be stupid. Last time you didnt listen you ran into problems. Thermostats are like 20 bucks, your parents wont buy one for you? And no your wrong, there are two big hoses. One at the top of the radiator and one at the bottom.

 

ok so good news. i got a new thermostat and found out why the old one was crap. there was a rubber piece around it and it somehow moved and was all wrapped up in the spring. replaced it and put antifreeze in it and its perfect now. also got new plugs and wires
thanks alot guys