Too Hot!
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Michigan City Indiana
Too Hot!
My 91 is running too hot while cruising in town. It gets up to around 250* and hotter. Just a hair into the red. I put a 160* thermostat in and totally flushed out the old antifreeze and replaced it with new. On the highway it seems normal. Right in the middle. This is starting to get on my nerves. Yes the fans kick on. I'm not sure about the one on the right though. I am open to ANY ideas.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 804
Likes: 1
From: The land of 10,000 lakes ,Minnesota 89 coupe 6speed with 383 and 89 roadster 6speed bonestock with XXX low miles
Check for air flow blockage between your radiator and condensor coil (crud likes to collect in this area)
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 269
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From: Newport News VA
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by sebesta1990
My 91 is running too hot while cruising in town. It gets up to around 250* and hotter. Just a hair into the red. I put a 160* thermostat in and totally flushed out the old antifreeze and replaced it with new. On the highway it seems normal. Right in the middle. This is starting to get on my nerves. Yes the fans kick on. I'm not sure about the one on the right though. I am open to ANY ideas.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor WA
Originally Posted by BRICKMAN
You might have a bad temp sen. When thay go bad you get really burned up
Remove your radiator cap when the engine is cold, start it and bring it up to temperature, and then check the coolant temperature with a thermometer you know to be accurate.Regards,
Rich
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Morrisville pa
I read these as my 88 is in the shop for overheating.
She brokedown about 2 weeks ago and had to get towed home.
As stated there was a TON of debris between the radiator and condensor.
The water pump and thermostat were swapped out, also one hose.
The radiator was flushed and then checked out. It was ok.
They had it at the shop idled for 45 minutes with the AC on it did fine. They did a test drive it was fine. I drove it home fine.
I went to go put new meat on the rears and on the way it overheated
Went into the red at over 290 before I was in a safe spot to pull over and shut her down. Both times the radiator was empy and the overflow was full and exploding.
It was running strong no problems both times.....
At this point I can only think its a head or gasket issue.
She brokedown about 2 weeks ago and had to get towed home.
As stated there was a TON of debris between the radiator and condensor.
The water pump and thermostat were swapped out, also one hose.
The radiator was flushed and then checked out. It was ok.
They had it at the shop idled for 45 minutes with the AC on it did fine. They did a test drive it was fine. I drove it home fine.
I went to go put new meat on the rears and on the way it overheated
Went into the red at over 290 before I was in a safe spot to pull over and shut her down. Both times the radiator was empy and the overflow was full and exploding.
It was running strong no problems both times.....
At this point I can only think its a head or gasket issue.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 14
From: POINT PLEASANT NEW JERSEY
Originally Posted by 89sleeper
Check for air flow blockage between your radiator and condensor coil (crud likes to collect in this area)
I heard they found Hoffa's body there....or at least thats what I heard!!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
I just worked through all those problems yesterday and none of them helped. Then i turned on the digital guage and it was reading the right temp while the needle was at redline. So my needle is faulty or something. But the car was not that how. check your digital one and see if it isn't the easy one first.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,240
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From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by shakey88
Went into the red at over 290 before I was in a safe spot to pull over and shut her down. Both times the radiator was empy and the overflow was full and exploding. .
safe spot?? Dang - for me, that would be right smack in the middle of the road!
Everyone else breaks down there, why not me
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 295
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From: Goodyear Arizona
Usually, overheating at idle is due to poor coolant circulation or poor air circulation. Both issues that don't come up at speed. I'd do what 89sleeper says and look for crud blocking your airflow, and if there's nothing there, look to make sure none of your air dams are missing or damaged.
Keep in mind it only takes a 10% internal blockage of your radiator to cut it's cooling capacity nearly in half. So, if you find nothing else amiss, you may want to have your radiator rodded out or replaced.
Keep in mind it only takes a 10% internal blockage of your radiator to cut it's cooling capacity nearly in half. So, if you find nothing else amiss, you may want to have your radiator rodded out or replaced.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
So far nobody has mentioned about reprogramming the fans to turn on earlier, just putting a 160 t-stat isn't going to do squat. If the fans are still coming on at the stock settings, that may have a little to do with it, also, did you burp the system?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
So, you've got a few things going on: first, you cleaned out betw. the rad and condens, second, have you burped the system as MMo said, third, have you checked the radiator cap, fourth, what'd you refill with and what ratio of water/antifreeze, fifth, temp sens. ok, and last, one fan's not going on at all. 250 is still not operating temp; it's high. but if it reaches that with syst. operating properly it should come down. tell us how it all turns out. and just because you have a new thermos. doesn't mean it's working---that's why some new parts have limited guarantees, they can and do fail. good idea to ck coolant temp (as said) with known, accurate thermometer.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
While you are cleaning out in front of the radiator, go ahead and remove the fan/shroud. Take a garden hose with a high pressure nozzle to the backside of the radiator and spend some time blasting out the dirt between the fins. Youll be shocked at how much small stuff comes out that you didnt think was there. Makes a night and day difference.