[Shotimes] Overheat - Part II

[Steve Tatro]

I just replaced the thermostat.  I'm now a thermostat-changing-expert, having essentially done it twice in the last two days (yesterday I changed the temp gauge sender).

No help.  I got done, refilled with my trusty 50/50 mix, took it out and beat the car to a pulp, and the gauge read above the "N" in no time.  Limped home to let her take a break.

So, who else (besides me) thinks it's a bad radiator?

To answer some of the questions people have asked:

Don, I haven't cleaned out the fins nor the condensor.  If anyone has any more detailed instructions on how to do this I'd appreciate it.

Chris, I haven't gotten an actual temperature reading, but my gauge has always seemed okay.  Besides, the sender is new and didn't affect the readings.  The gauge stays pretty steady.  Either on hot (on the highway) or really hot (in stop-and-go).  I just removed a 2-year old Ford Revised-B thermostat and replaced it with a Stant.  As I mentioned, no difference.

Would a real radiator flow test tell me for sure if the radiator is in need of replacing?

Chris, I may take you up on your offer for help as I've never changed a radiator.  I assume it's not too difficult, but I usually find a way to screw things up ;^)

Thanks,

Steve



-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Tatro <stevetatro_shotimes@earthlink.net>
Sent: Jul 29, 2004 6:54 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: [Shotimes] Overheat - Part II

Thanks to everyone who responded with advice.  I had the system pressure tested,
everything there was fine.  I also had a pressure test done on the block, at least
that's what they told me, and there's apparently no head gasket problem.  Sort of
what I expected since it seems HG failures are so rare on the SHO.  For the heck
of it I paid them the exhorbitant amount they demanded to do a chemical flush/refill
of my coolant system.

On the way home, same thing.  Temperature goes waaay up to the "N" in 
NORMAL, even a bit past a couple of times.  This was on the highway going anywhere
from 65 to 80 mph.  It seemed to help a *bit* if I made sure to get in some clean
air instead of "drafting" the car in front of me, but not much.  What 
did help (and kept me from overheating) was switching the EATC to FLOOR and turning
the heat all the way up.

Does any of this help anyone make a long-distance guess as to the problem?  Theoretically
the car shouldn't even need a cooling fan at that speed, right?  So I should be 
able to cross that off the list.  Besides, even putting the EATC in full AUTO didn't
help, even though it forces the fan on (AFAIK).

I guess there are three things I can think of: thermostat, radiator, water pump.
Thermostat replaced a couple of years ago, radiator about 5 years old (but always
with plenty of fresh green coolant), water pump about 2 years old (went bye-bye 
suddenly one day).

Ideas?  I appreciate it.

Steve Tatro
Red/Black '93 with 178k miles
Monroe, Ohio
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