Engine surging after about 5 minutes of idle

[dlwiii]

I turn on my 93 Civic 1.5L, and it sounds fine. It's been overheating so I'm trying to get the radiator valve to open. But after about 5 minutes the smooth engine sounds becomes an intermittent sound, a surge about every 1 second. Like it's loosing power then gaining power.

Any ideas?

 

[E_SolSi]

air in the coolant lines

 

[dlwiii]

Do you mean in the radiator coolant lines?
Since the system just circulates water, wouldn't that resolve itself once it got and the thermostat opened?

 

[hondafreak513]

no it wont since there is no way for the system to vent its self out... take the radiator cap off and let it run for a while and sqeeze the lower radiator hose at the same time... do this until the fan kicks on..

 

[dlwiii]

Will do - thank you.

 

[brian11to1]

Clean your IACV valve, located on the back of the intake manifold.

That "radiator valve" you're talking about is called a thermostat!