Heat problem
41 posts
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I picked up a ‘66 Series 2 project last year. The car has not been driven since 1976… until yesterday. Now I can really begin to identify the cars needs. The first thing that has come to light now that the car is drivable is an over heating issue. The car will idle for 20 minutes and the temp gage sits steady at 160*. But when driving for just a few minutes the temp starts to climb to the point of overheating. Today I flushed the radiator and block. After refilling the system I let it idle for a long time and again it held steady at 160*. After driving for a few minutes the temp started rising again, although slower than before. I stopped driving when the temp hit about 200*, I didn’t shut off the engine but let it sit and idle for another 15 minutes and the temp dropped back down to around 190*. The radiator is the original brass unit with two 9” electric fans mounted on the front pushing air through the rad. My guess is the old radiator is fine at rest but can’t handle the extra heat of an engine under load. Am I missing something, any advice from the experts here would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
Thanks,
Steve
- StephenT
- First Gear
- Posts: 45
- Joined: 09 May 2022
I would check
1. Are the fans switching on and at what temperature ?
2. Is the thermostat fully opening and at what temperature ?
3. Is you temperature gauge accurate ?
A presurised system with antifreeze coolant will not boil until above 230 F.
cheers
Rohan
1. Are the fans switching on and at what temperature ?
2. Is the thermostat fully opening and at what temperature ?
3. Is you temperature gauge accurate ?
A presurised system with antifreeze coolant will not boil until above 230 F.
cheers
Rohan
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rgh0 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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I am assuming the thermostat is opening fully but not sure how to measure that. When refilling the radiator I had the engine running. When the gage hit 160* the level in the radiator began dropping so I could add more fluid. I am pretty sure that is when the thermostat opened. So that would signify the gage and thermostat are working correctly.
I am wondering if by mounting the fans on the front of the radiator could they actually be blocking more air flow than they are creating when driving? Two 9” fans pretty much cover the radiator. I don’t think I have enough room between the radiator and the water pump pulley to mount the fans behind the radiator. I will check tomorrow.
I am wondering if by mounting the fans on the front of the radiator could they actually be blocking more air flow than they are creating when driving? Two 9” fans pretty much cover the radiator. I don’t think I have enough room between the radiator and the water pump pulley to mount the fans behind the radiator. I will check tomorrow.
- StephenT
- First Gear
- Posts: 45
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Just remove the thermostat to be sure it not part of the problem.
Ian
SoCal
Ian
SoCal
- Ianashdown
- Second Gear
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Have you checked that fans are actually pushing the air through the radiator and not sucking? Could the fans be turning the wrong way? Some fans are designed as pushers and some as suckers and by just reversing the rotation they are not always as efficient.
Just by flashing a radiator it does not always clean it out, sediment can build up and block the tubes and it needs to be cleaned or recored by the proffionals.
Just by flashing a radiator it does not always clean it out, sediment can build up and block the tubes and it needs to be cleaned or recored by the proffionals.
Brian
64 S2 Roadster
72 Sprint FHC
64 S2 Roadster
72 Sprint FHC
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types26/36 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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Stephen
I agree with both Brian and Rohan. Check that the fans are actually blowing through the radiator by seeing if a piece of thin paper will stick to the front of the fan, it is sometimes difficult to determine airflow direction just using your hand.
If the airflow direction is correct then the radiator is probably partially blocked internally and needs recoring.
I agree with both Brian and Rohan. Check that the fans are actually blowing through the radiator by seeing if a piece of thin paper will stick to the front of the fan, it is sometimes difficult to determine airflow direction just using your hand.
If the airflow direction is correct then the radiator is probably partially blocked internally and needs recoring.
Mike
72 Sprint DHC
72 Sprint DHC
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lotusfan - Third Gear
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From an old Hagerty article:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenan ... ing-issue/
"The answer here depends on how the car is running hot. If it’s hot even while cruising down the highway, it’s a water-flow issue. If it’s cool while in motion and only hot while idling in traffic, it’s an airflow issue."
Of course, if the fan is running backwards I guess this would be turned upside down....
Nick
https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenan ... ing-issue/
"The answer here depends on how the car is running hot. If it’s hot even while cruising down the highway, it’s a water-flow issue. If it’s cool while in motion and only hot while idling in traffic, it’s an airflow issue."
Of course, if the fan is running backwards I guess this would be turned upside down....
Nick
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elanner - Fourth Gear
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joe7 wrote:Had this problem one time. After a short drive it would overheat, let it idle and it would cool down. Found out it needed new bearings
What needed new bearings?? I'm presuming not the engine!!
Renew the thermostat as a matter of course. They are cheap. Do not run without a thermostat. I hope you renewed all the rubber hoses, fan belt and radiator cap as a matter of course also.
Check that the ignition timing isn't retarded. Engines run hot if the timing is too far retarded.
Run it with some coolant flush in the system. Do it a couple of times. Drain and refill with correct coolant.
Provided the system isn't leaking or boiling it doesn't seem like there's much of a problem,
1970 Ford Escort Twin Cam
1972 Ford Escort GT1600 Twin Cam
1980 Ford Escort 2.0 Ghia
Peugeot 505 GTI Wagons (5spdx1) (Autox1)
2022 Ford Fiesta ST.
1972 Ford Escort GT1600 Twin Cam
1980 Ford Escort 2.0 Ghia
Peugeot 505 GTI Wagons (5spdx1) (Autox1)
2022 Ford Fiesta ST.
- 2cams70
- Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Joined: 10 Jun 2015
An easy check for the sender/gauge. - drop the sender in water, with wiring attached ( the earth is trickiest, but a crocodile clip is useful). stick it in a pyrex beaker, or an old tin can and heat to boiling (hot air gun works a treat).. what does the gauge show ?
I had a similar issue which turned out to be the (old) sender unit.
I had a similar issue which turned out to be the (old) sender unit.
1968 Elan plus 2 - project
2007 Elise S2 [modified with a Hethel 70th sticker (yellow)]
2000 Elise S1 - Sold
2007 Elise S2 [modified with a Hethel 70th sticker (yellow)]
2000 Elise S1 - Sold
- wotsisname
- Third Gear
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2cams70 wrote:joe7 wrote:Do not run without a thermostat.
I was only suggesting to remove the thermostat for the purpose of testing and eliminating it as the source of the problem. However the only downside to not running a thermostat is the longer required warm-up before driving.
We always remove the thermostats from racing engines, but they are thoroughly warmed up before being driven.
Before replacing the radiator you could try having your cleaned internally with an ultrasonic cleaner.
Ian
- Ianashdown
- Second Gear
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Mine had sat for 20 years, stripped the engine without even attempting to start it. The inlet pipe to the waterpump was completely blocked / crystallised up and the block was full of sludge and hard rust deposits which a flush wouldn't have removed. Engine shop pondered sending it for an acid dip, but it got blasted out in the end.
Also a couple of freeze plugs were well past their best, I was certainly glad I didn't attempt to run it.
Also a couple of freeze plugs were well past their best, I was certainly glad I didn't attempt to run it.
- pptom
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