Cooling problems

[68Stang]

Yeah, I know... Its not a real gauge but whatever. It provides a reference point.

My car ran really hot the other day so I decided to replace the thermo with a 180* thermo, and I also replaced the stock 140,000 mile water pump. Followed up with a radiator and a block flush. NORMALLY my temp gauge would read at 12 o'clock, or just to the right. Well, today I went to the grocery store and it was running on the L. What gives?

I'm to the point of not even caring if the bitch blows or hell, I hope she gets stolen tonight. I'm sick of fixing **** and chasing problems.

 

[68Stang]

Anybody?

 

[sgarlic]

I can't picture whether the L is really hot or really cold. If it's really hot:

Sounds like the t-stat you put in is either stuck closed, installed backwards, or the gauge sender took a crap.

If it's really cold: T-stat stuck open.

 

[timeless2]

Thermostat stuck open.

Only if the one he just put in is defective, right?

 

[sgarlic]

Only if the one he just put in is defective, right?

Yea that's what I meant. I've put several in that took craps almost immediately.. guess there's no quality assurance division in these companies.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

All of the things you did are great things to do at you mileage. The most common problems with what you did are mixing the coolant improperly and installing the thermostat backwards or maybe getting a huge air bubble stuck in the coolant. So you are saying you car is running too cool? That would be toward the L...

 

[timeless2]

All of the things you did are great things to do at you mileage. The most common problems with what you did are mixing the coolant improperly and installing the thermostat backwards. So you are saying you car is running too cool? That would be toward the L...

He's running as hot as my avatar, as in on the L in NORMAL.

 

[sgarlic]

In that case, I'm voting for defective or improperly installed thermostat.

And hey man, don't get discouraged. I've spent months and nearly years troubleshooting problems with my foxbody. I spent nearly 6 months trying to figure out why the damn blinkers didn't work.. it'll all come together, and you'll probably laugh at the thought of selling it because of these kinds of problems (after the fact.)

 

[68Stang]

Thermo is in right - spring down. I guess tomorrow I'll toss it in a pot of boiling water with a thermometer and see if it opens. I'll probably pick up a new radiator cap too. The coolant mixture is 50/50.

 

[sgarlic]

I hate to even mention it, but I'm sure you made sure to refill the system with the engine on and climbing to operating temp? Did you also burp it?

 

[68Stang]

Yup.

 

[sgarlic]

Hrmph. Test the t-stat I guess.. then we'll go from there.

 

[68Stang]

Went to the carwash and pressure washed my engine/radiator really well and so far so good. It was a tip from a ford mechanic buddy of mine. He said they typically see cars with so much gunk built up between the condensor and radiator that air flow becomes very poor. But its also night. I'll take it back out for a drive in the heat and see how fast/slow the temp rises.

 

[sgarlic]

Pressure washed the engine? Tomorrow we'll see a, "My CEL is on.. random misfires detected.. why??"

 

[68Stang]

Pressure washed the engine? Tomorrow we'll see a, "My CEL is on.. random misfires detected.. why??"

Nah, I've done it MANY times and have never had a problem. I cant' even count the number of times I've pressure washed it. Maybe because I make sure all my plug boots are pressed in firmly and don't directly spray the fuse box, the coil packs, or the maf.

But my CEL is on... It's that pesky off-road X pipe.

 

[forpit2000gt]

are you sure it isn't full of air?

 

[68Stang]

Took her out again today in the sun and heat and under normal conditions she drove pretty cool. Feeling pretty confident I decided to give her a beating. During this time she heated up to the top of the M at which point the thermostat opened up and she cooled back down to the R. She runs good, and she runs cool.

Oh, and Garlic... No misfire . Maybe thats a COP thing.

 

[KronicRacer]

i hate to say this (someone has to)
you wont see the full effect of the new 180*thermo unless you make the fans kick in earlier. best way to moniter/adjust this is with a predator type device.

if you've adjusted the fans already disregard this