Searched & searched, can't get specific enough

[358stroker]

Cooling related:
I can't keep my car cool in TX (100 degrees). I have the following:

new Stewart water pump
aluminum radiator
new 180 stat
new rad cap
custom tune, 190 low speed, 200 high speed
new hoses
autometer water temp guage

The fan comes on in the driveway at 190, but when I go out and drive the car and get on it, it seems to like the 200-210 range. Then when the A/C comes on it stays around 210 and just past that mark on the guage.

When I pull in the driveway after running at over 200 I can feel the high speed fan on, same when the A/C is on...

Just seems too hot...any trouble shooting ideas?

 

[mo_dingo]

The factory t-stat is 195 and for the car to be sitting at 210 is completely normal. If you want it to be even cooler, you may need one of those high cfm fans from summit. They list many for our app. that claim IIRC at least 2x the amount of CFM that the factory fan draws.

How many cores does your radiator have? Which one is it?
Scott

 

[358stroker]

It's a 2 core radiator, not sure the brand, but it did bolt right in with zero mods...

 

[HISSIN50]

I think those temps are decent for a a motor like is reflected by your username.

Scott's got a point about the SN95 fan. I outrun mine a little bit when we get much over 100*F. I'd shoot for a Viper fan if replacing the stocker (the Mark 8 might not fit our tight confines very well).

I'm not a big fan of many aftermarket fans. There can be no consistancy in how they rate the fans and some have been known to extrapolate CFM ratings as if the fan motor wasnt even there (as an impediment to flow). The OEM's are very good fans IMHO.

But if all you hit is 210*F with a high speed on threshold of 200, I dont think that's too bad myself. Scott and I know how hot ya get over there in Texas.

Good luck.

 

[final5-0]

I can relate to Texas summers

If you had a way to lower pcm values, you'd see a big change

Have you by chance lost your air diffuser under the chin

Grady

 

[358stroker]

Hissin: I may look into a Viper fan, but not sure if it would fit with my vortech A trim??

Grady: I've seen people refer to the air dam thingy under the nose of the car. What the heck is it and does anyone have a pic of what I should have?

 

[The Green GT]

210 is completely normal on my car. the stock gauge reads between the O and R when my aftermarket one is on 210*.

 

[final5-0]

Hissin: I may look into a Viper fan, but not sure if it would fit with my vortech A trim??

Grady: I've seen people refer to the air dam thingy under the nose of the car. What the heck is it and does anyone have a pic of what I should have?

Some say they get no benefit from it
but
I lost mine several years back when I was runnin a self ported E7 head combo which btw ... did not run as hot as my current combo. I noticed the temps went up and finally saw I had lost it.

They can be knocked off in a heart beat if you pull up too far to a curb or one of those pylons in a parking lot.

It is a little flippy flappy doo hicky that spans the entire length of the motor compartment.

I don't have any pics.

If you look under there and don't see ... its gone

Grady

 

[358stroker]

Are they black? If so I have one still. It hangs down about 1" or so from the bottom of the front facia, right in front of the radiator support.

 

[final5-0]

Are they black? If so I have one still. It hangs down about 1" or so from the bottom of the front facia, right in front of the radiator support.

That be it

Grady

 

[HISSIN50]

For an awesome! Viper fan install (this guy does things like I wish I could afford to), see Ponyboy19's thread about his Viper fan install (on a blown motor with an alum radiator). That might shed some insight about fitment concerns.

Grady's right-on with that air dam. Most folks dont notice it's having gone on Walkabout until temps get into the high 90's. Now all of a sudden it's being gone makes a noticable difference.

 

[358stroker]

I read Ponyboy's viper install from 2004, It doesn't say if he had a vortech or not?? I wonder if he has more current pics, as that was 2 years ago....

 

[358stroker]

UPDATE....

I was driving around today in 97 degree weather with the A/C on and the temp is up at 220-225.
The high speed fan is on too...

Maybe the stock fan isn't enough for my application? thoughts from anyone....

 

[Pokageek]

I tuned mine to come on much earlier and 180* thermostat me thinks (from memory). Now no matter how hot it gets or how hard I run it, it NEVER goes beyond the "o."

 

[HISSIN50]

Normally I'd wonder if you're able to reject enough heat in the system (read: whether your radiator is up to the task). But if you have an aftermarket alum unit, you'd think it would. That and the rest of this post is reaching for straws.

The only other thing I wonder is: since you have the AC on, high speed should be on. I wonder if the high speed is cutting out on you. Do you have the retrofit CB installed? If so, it could be kickin out.

Does the car cool off more while driving on the highway (anything over 45 mph) or while idling?

Is the system holding pressure?

Is the t-stat a decent one? Some of the cheaper (parts store) units dont open when they're supposed to (they're unbalanced) and dont open fully nearly as soon as the decent stats (Mr Gasket, et al).

Random thoughts.
Good luck.

 

[358stroker]

Normally I'd wonder if you're able to reject enough heat in the system (read: whether your radiator is up to the task). But if you have an aftermarket alum unit, you'd think it would. That and the rest of this post is reaching for straws.

The only other thing I wonder is: since you have the AC on, high speed should be on. I wonder if the high speed is cutting out on you. Do you have the retrofit CB installed? If so, it could be kickin out.

Does the car cool off more while driving on the highway (anything over 45 mph) or while idling?

Is the system holding pressure?

Is the t-stat a decent one? Some of the cheaper (parts store) units dont open when they're supposed to (they're unbalanced) and dont open fully nearly as soon as the decent stats (Mr Gasket, et al).

Random thoughts.
Good luck.

What is the "CB"?

Yes it cools down a little when on the freeway and when in my driveway, I'd say between 210-215 on a hot day like today.