OK...I am dumb founded on this one. please help!

Recently installed the new DeWitt's radiator/oil cooler combo with the LEFT side oil cooler, 160F thermostat and fans set at 190.

The car previously had the stock radiator, stock thermostat, no oil cooler, but still had the fans set at 190. Under these conditions on the street, the car ran anywhere between 190-198, rarely going above 200F. I road race, so the oil would get hot 285'ish, but only after a 20 minute session. I added a cam G5X3, so I figured while the radiator must come out, replace it, and add the oil cooler.

Now, with the new set up, my car runs hotter WTF? But the strange part is the abnormal fluctuations in temp. It also doesn't follow a typical pattern. Within 10 seconds of normal moderate traffic in 35F winter weather stop and go, it will go down to 185 at high rpm, then back up to 196, then up to 209, then back down to 193...all literally within 10 seconds.

I let the car idle for 15 minutes and checked the fans...both were working and the car stayed around 193F, but rev up to 3K and the temp drops to 180?!?! but doesn't stay there? With the new radiator and 160 thermostat, I would think the car would run cooler, not hotter? and what's with the temp fluctuations?

Does an integrated oil cooler cause the overall car temps to run higher in street conditions, but then balance out under track loads...

 

Sounds like you have air in the system.

 

Interesting...

I guess this is an easy fix...run the car for 10 minutes (cold) with the radiator cap off and let the air work it's way out? like if you were adding fluid?

 

Yeah. Take the cap off, start the engine and just give it time to warm up and watch the temp come up. As the thermostat opens, the water level should go down. Just keep the reservoir about half full so it wont suck anymore air down. It will eventually purge itself of air and then fill the reservoir and put the cap back on and it should be fine.

 

if air pockets are the problem turn the heat on max. Usually when the air coming out is hot the air has been removed also do this with the radiator cap off as someone already said.

 

,try and reburp it.