Help: I'm running hot.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,683
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Help: I'm running hot.
Hotter than normal. I was seeing 230°F this morning sitting in traffic. Is this normal to see while stopped with an outside air temp. of about 80°F. What would cause this because I haven't noticed until today. Normally at cruising speed I run about 194°F. This is all with the stock cooling system. Any ideas why this would start happening?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Likes: 4
From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
If you get a chance, get underneath the front and check the radiator to see if some debris is clogging it. You'd be amazed at what gets caught up there. These cars are like vacuum cleaners.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Originally Posted by Chicago
If you get a chance, get underneath the front and check the radiator to see if some debris is clogging it. You'd be amazed at what gets caught up there. These cars are like vacuum cleaners.
Those temps sound too high for me. I bet you have something up under the intake. Another good place to check if you can is to remove the radiator shroud and check inbetween the radiator and the condensor I believe. You can end up with sand and debris in there. Paul
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Palm Bay FL
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by Chicago
If you get a chance, get underneath the front and check the radiator to see if some debris is clogging it. You'd be amazed at what gets caught up there. These cars are like vacuum cleaners.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Originally Posted by Chicago
If you get a chance, get underneath the front and check the radiator to see if some debris is clogging it. You'd be amazed at what gets caught up there. These cars are like vacuum cleaners.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Greenville SC
Originally Posted by dbirdz06
Hotter than normal. I was seeing 230°F this morning sitting in traffic. Is this normal to see while stopped with an outside air temp. of about 80°F. What would cause this because I haven't noticed until today. Normally at cruising speed I run about 194°F. This is all with the stock cooling system. Any ideas why this would start happening?
Good luck, JCR_Indy
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Tx
Originally Posted by dbirdz06
Hotter than normal. I was seeing 230°F this morning sitting in traffic. Is this normal to see while stopped with an outside air temp. of about 80°F. What would cause this because I haven't noticed until today. Normally at cruising speed I run about 194°F. This is all with the stock cooling system. Any ideas why this would start happening?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
defintly check the radiator area from under the front... i took compressed air and literally had to take a shower b/c there was so much dirt, leaves, misc crap... my temps dropped down 20*s!!! i normally sit right around 180* +/- 2 (i think t-stat is 180 as well)
and yes, coolant level! there is also stuff u can buy from auto parts stores, pour into coolant and it lowers temps by like 10*'s....
Aj
and yes, coolant level! there is also stuff u can buy from auto parts stores, pour into coolant and it lowers temps by like 10*'s....
Aj
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
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From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Like everybody said: Check your coolant, hoses, fans, etc. However, remove the radiator shroud (four bolts). And, you might just very well have anything from pieces of road kill (Geesuzz), to a bunch of freaking taco belgrande nachos wrappers cloging and blocking the radiator (happened to me). Let us know how it turns out for you.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,683
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Thanks for all the ideas. I'm getting under my car tonight as I change my rotors and pads so I'll see what all is under there. But, on my way home from work today the temp didn't get above 207 in traffic and this was at about 97 degrees outside. I didn't know that my temperature would drop 20 degrees when it got 15 degrees hotter outside. Explain that to me, please!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
I didn't beleive all that crap in the radiator would make that big of a difference. I took a look and mine, and yeah it was dirty, especially up towards the top. Said "HUM", then decided to get dirty.
Turned on the air compressor and blow nozzle and I was amazed at all the crap that came out! Then used high pressure nozzle on garden hose and sprayed as best I could, front side and back.
End result..... a good 20-25 degrees cooler in traffic, RARELY gets over 210 in steaming blistering hot Texas. Fans kick on and will pull it under 210 - get rolling on the freeway and cools to below 200.
I've heard 230 isn't "major", but 245 is the absolute limit.. In fact, doesn't some sort of computer switch intervene and limit throttle and/or spark till it cools down????
Turned on the air compressor and blow nozzle and I was amazed at all the crap that came out! Then used high pressure nozzle on garden hose and sprayed as best I could, front side and back.
End result..... a good 20-25 degrees cooler in traffic, RARELY gets over 210 in steaming blistering hot Texas. Fans kick on and will pull it under 210 - get rolling on the freeway and cools to below 200.
I've heard 230 isn't "major", but 245 is the absolute limit.. In fact, doesn't some sort of computer switch intervene and limit throttle and/or spark till it cools down????
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,683
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
I found a lot of debris at the top of my radiator (bugs, grass, etc.) but no major trash of any kind. Cleaned all of it out and ran about 10° cooler this morning. Still a little hot for me at around 217°. Checking the coolant is next on the list.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Rollin' Worldwide from OH10 Ohio
My experiences have been that
1: Dirty rad.
2: T stat getting a little old and soft
3: low on coolant
4: fans set to come on to late
-----------
I run a 178 tstat and fans come on at 178, car usually runs in the low 80s no matter what
1: Dirty rad.
2: T stat getting a little old and soft
3: low on coolant
4: fans set to come on to late
-----------
I run a 178 tstat and fans come on at 178, car usually runs in the low 80s no matter what
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,811
Likes: 31
From: Minnetonka MN
St. Jude Donor '06
i can tell ya'll...when u get upto 265*..the car basically dies...mine did during the Summer Car Craft NAtionals. opened the hood, the coolant started bubbling out of the cap... it was 90* out and hi humidity...all at 8:30am!!! it was nuts!
Aj
Aj
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
I was running at 225 all the time just got under the car with a air nozzle and tooth brush and went to town. Next time I know to wear some goggles kept getting rocks in my eyes. After that I washed it down with a hose.Couldnt believe the amount of rocks, sand, and some bird feathers were in there. Was sitting in traffic today in 80 degree heat and it didnt get over 196. This is a must to those running hot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 1
From: Woodbridge Va
I am having the same problem with excessively high temps. I had the car on the lift last month and was able to blow grass and leaves out of the radiator and it cooled it down a little. I took the radiator shroud off today and clean out whatever I could reach with the vacum hose and tooth brush.
I am still running 230-247 on my daily commute to work with very short idle times in traffic. I checked the coolant level and it looks ok and the fans do turn on. What is the average mileage prior to changing coolant? I don't know if the dealer flushed the system before I bought the car 2 years ago (24k miles ago). Come to think of it, none of the fluids have been changed in the car since I bought it, with the exception of the routine oil changes.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am still running 230-247 on my daily commute to work with very short idle times in traffic. I checked the coolant level and it looks ok and the fans do turn on. What is the average mileage prior to changing coolant? I don't know if the dealer flushed the system before I bought the car 2 years ago (24k miles ago). Come to think of it, none of the fluids have been changed in the car since I bought it, with the exception of the routine oil changes.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
