busted thermostat?

Not sure what the problem is but I doubt it's the thermostat. A stuck closed one would make the hot water stay in the engine and the cool water stay in the radiator, so that shouldn't increase the pressure in the radiator.

I believe those radiators are th aliminum cappped end type, whcih means they really cannot be fixed, replacement is about the only option. Those radiator stop leak products are not recommended for radiators like those as they tend to clog them something terrible

I can't see how. The pressure should be no higher than normal operation.

You still know nothing. Until you know what the actual temperature in the radiator is, you don't know if the water should be circulating.

You say you had a leak in the radiator, Did you replace it?

I believe you need to buy a new one. If it is the original I sure would not want to bother trying to fix it.

Incorrect, the complete cooling system is sealed by the radiator cap. So the same pressure is throughout the cooling system.

Not incorrect.

What I was getting at is that if there was any difference in pressure between the radiator side and the engine side of things (if the thermostat was stuck closed), there's no likely way that the radiator side would be higher in pressure. If any difference in pressure were to occur, it'd be on the engine side of things because that's where the hotter coolant is.

I agree with Woodchuck. Pressure would still build up in the radiator even if the thermostat was stuck closed. :-) Remember that the upper radiator hose will allow the pressure (caused by heat) to transfer to the radiator. If there was a hole in the radiator, cool coolant would be pushed out of it due to the pressure.

So the pressure will basically be high all over! ;-)

later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Thank you