Re: [DML] Overheating?

["Jake Kamphoefner" <jakekamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Paul,

Really, your car should never run that hot.  Even when I was running my 
original radiator (I've since replaced it with the 3 core brass one for good 
measure) I never had it get that hot.  The first white line without numbers 
is your operating temperature mark, and really the car should never get 
*much* hotter than that.  In slow traffic or while idling, it's normal for 
the temp to reach above that mark just slightly, and only long enough for 
the radiator fans to turn on.  On the highway, the fans should never run 
unless your A/C compressor is cycling.

So what's the problem?  Fortunately, it's most likely just air in the system 
and/or a low coolant level..  Check the level, bleed the air out from the 
waterpump or install a self-bleeder and you're all set.  If that doesn't fix 
the problem, it's likely something much larger such as a restriction in the 
radiator from old stop-leak additive, or a faulty radiator.  We have a club 
member here in St. Louis whose radiator fins were falling apart and not 
offering much (if any) heat dispersion.  It wasn't obvious by sight, so it 
took a while to diagnose.  For a while, we couldn't figure out why the hell 
it was running so hot! :-)

If your problem is the former, you'll have it fixed in 5 minutes.  If it's 
the latter, you're looking at a complete cooling system overhaul, which 
needs to be done sooner than later anyway if it hasn't already.  In any 
case, don't keep driving it that way.  If any of the symptoms are 
degenerative, you'll soon be hauling around a nice, giant chunk of melted 
aluminum in your engine compartment!

Jake Kamphoefner
1063 --> "Cool" in more ways than one....

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "sweetp01569" <sweetp01569@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 6:58 PM
Subject: [DML] Overheating?


> Quick question for the group.  I am not sure if it's normal or not,
> as I have only taken the car for a few rides, and my first real
> drive on the highway.  While driving on the highway, my temp gauge
> stayed pretty much on the horizontal at 240 degrees, in the white.
> When I turned the AC on, the needle crept up slowly another 1/4 up
> the dial, to about 240, starting into the red, and pretty much
> stayed there.  I shut off the AC, and the temp slowly dropped back
> to normal.  When I got home, I could smell the heat from the engine,
> and wasn't thrilled about it.  Is this normal when AC is operated?
> It was about 70 degrees outside, but the car seems to get warm
> sitting in the sun all day at work, and wanted to cool the interior
> a little.
>
> The radiator fans do work, as I witnessed them operating fine while
> idle in my driveway.  Does the AC prevent them from working
> properly, or is it just too much strain on the engine? I don't have
> any of the Zilla's; something I should probably get soon, including
> FanZilla.  Is this recommended?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
> 




To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/