yeoldepirate

I'm at my wits end. Searched all the threads, and nothing like what I'm getting. My FC is getting hot only at speed, and not losing coolant. Water pump is 8 months old, thermostadt removed, running shrouded e-fan, distilled water w/ water wetter, flushed system twice, replaced lower hose. All this and it still heats up to about 3/4 on the gauge. Used to run at 1/4 a little under half on heavy load. This is driving me nuts. Any other suggestions before I buy a new radiator?????

The Spyder

iTrader: (8)

Lets see....
1. Flush the coolant system. Radiator and all. CLR, even a heavy bleaching could help get any thingout.
2. Check the install and function of the Thermostat.
3. Get a water temp guage- You never know if that one is working correctly after all these years.

yeoldepirate

The gauge may not be very accurate, but I know it is definitely hot. The smell is hard to mistake. The thermostadt was new, just took it out to see if it would help. No luck.

The Spyder

iTrader: (8)

Who makes your EFAN?

yeoldepirate

Perma-Cool, plenty CFM's. I'm pretty sure it's not that due to the car not getting hot in traffic. Regardless, I'm going back to stock fan/shroud, and just ordered a replacement radiator. Damn, $200 more into the money pit! Ahhhhhh.....

BASTARD

iTrader: (4)

double check that you bleed all the air out of the system. take the radiator cap off the system(while cold) and then start the car and let if run until it gets hot, when the thermostat opens and lets the air out your good to go...also while you have the cap off and the engine warm try squeasing the radiator hoses(sometimes helps purge the system) you shouldn't need an electric fan after about 30 MPH or so, the air flow shold be enough to cool the radiator...also use the bleed screw on the side of the upper hose outlet to bleed any excess air out of the system(if you haven't already)...just some ideas

Parastie

LoL, welcome to the moneypit club.

Anyway, make sure there's nothing in front of the radiator that could be blocking it, like dirt or birds or something....

yeoldepirate

Been done already. Only thing I can think is that the radiator is bad, or the water pump. However, don't the water pumps leak when they fail i.e. the tell tale hole at the bottom of the pump? Funny cause it only heats up above 30 mph.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Put the themostat back in, its there to regulate the temp and water flow.

Check your lower rad hose and see if it is collapsing with the rpms up.

RETed

Is the thermostat totally gone?
Or is it gutted?
You might want to put back the flange - the slight restriction is supposed to help cooling, if you can believe that.

Hey, I saw your car at that plastics shop - Hawaii Plastics?

I heard you're selling your car???


-Ted

yeoldepirate

It was the radiator. Put the new one in and she runs like a champ again. No higher than 1/4 on the gauge. I should have listened to you guys about the distilled water suggestion. Damn Hawaiian hard water deposits killed my radiator in less than 3 years! Thanks for the help guys.

Tiers

HA...good to hear, I knew it was the rad. Friends 87 just went through the same trouble and sequence of events.