Yes since the rad is lower than the engine, best to raise the front for air to travel up to highest point..

 

You don’t need to burp out the last tiny bit of air. A few thermal cycles will expel it and suck coolant from the recovery tank in its place.

 

Thank you all so much again. Everyone's advice was spot on. I think the burping helped big time. My HHR is running beautifully, right at about 190 F under normal driving. I am pretty sure my thermostat was not working properly all along (I bought car with 129,000 miles on it) because I never remember seeing temp go above 175 F before. Also, I wanted to comment on mixing Dexcool with regular green Prestone. So, I had my collection bucket that I used to collect coolant from the last vehicle I flushed (1998 Saturn SW2), which had the green coolant. As soon as I added my discarded Dexcool to it, I instantly saw solids appear in the solution. I am pretty sure I saw someone comment about this before, but just from the visual evidence, I would say that I will never let the green stuff near my HHR (just for sake of not letting it react with residual Dexcool in my system). Probably better, if you get in a pinch to just add water until you can flush system and get the right concentration of Dexcool back in the system.

I didn't like the looks of it, so I changed. Seems like running temperature is higher now.

 

Did you install a 180 degree AC Delco 131-158 thermostat?

 

Yes. The temperature generally fluctuates between 185 to about 200 but mostly sits right around 190 when I am running down the road. Plus, the lower radiator hose has definitely gotten nice and toasty after I have run around town a little.

 

Good to know, I always worried any voids in cooling system could cause hot spots..

 

When Dexcool overheats it produces white chunks. If it has those chunks it is worn out.

 

Thanks Don- I've never had anything remotely like that..