Creeping Temps

[-Spike-]

Anytime I am in stop and go traffic or let the car idle it over heats enough to shut off the ac.

To me that sounds very much like a lack of air flow, which would point at the fan clutch or an air restriction. I do have one other thought, what thermostat did you use? Did you install it with the bleed hole at the 12 o'clock position? If you don't find that the fan clutch or air movement in general is the problem, you may want to re-visit that thermostat. As I've said before, the OEM thermostat looks to be a better design than the typical Stant replacement you'd find at most parts places, and in my opinion it's worth the extra hassle to get one. The cooling system ain't rocket science, there's only so many things that can be wrong. With a new radiator you're already past the expensive hump, you'll probably find it is something relatively simple causing your problems.

-Spike

 

[Epic Ed]

Rob -- does the coolant ever boil? Most noticable as a gurggling sound after you've shut down the engine. Any coolant loss at all?

The LightForce lamps are huge, depending on model, and may not be doing you any favors in terms of air flow. Should be easy enough to remove them temporarily and see if you get different results.

I'll be bringing a new fan clutch to the wrenching day on Saturday to replace my fan clutch and I'm likely going to go with the 10000 weight oil. I hope we can collectively help figure out what's going on with yours.

Ed

 

[Tools R Us]

... Anytime I am in stop and go traffic or let the car idle it over heats enough to shut off the ac...

...
The LightForce lamps are huge, depending on model, and may not be doing you any favors in terms of air flow. Should be easy enough to remove them temporarily and see if you get different results...

Ed

Yes they are big lights, but I doubt they make any difference in stop and go traffic or when idling.

 

[phxtlc]

has anyone rigged up a small pusher fan to the left of the oil cooler (on a 92 anyway)?

 

[-Spike-]

Both Kevin's brother Rob and I have an electric fan on the passenger side of the condenser, both newer 80's. The e-fan made a big difference in the air conditioning at idle on both, if I remember what Rob said. Definitely on mine. However, Kevin then started modding fan clutches, and I believe he's told me he thinks the modded fan pulls more air than the unmodded fan w/ e-fan. The e-fan made no noticeable difference in engine cooling on my rig as the truck never overheated before, even while idling in the desert with the A/C on for hours.
Dollar for dollar, the e-fan install will run you several hours and $100+. The fan mod is ~$10 and 30 minutes of work, with a few hours of down time while waiting for the clutch to drain.
There's a ton of info in the 80's section of the board, if you're interested.

-Spike

 

[medtro]

I will try my best to be there at the wrench day...all systems are a go to be there as of now. I haven't cleaned off the bugs as of late, I do have my lightforce lights in front of the radiator. My fan shroud is broken, but taped back together. I broke in when doing the fan clutch and haven't been able to find a new one. foam around radiator is good.

It's driving me crazy, I have actually been thinking of taking it to the dealer...so you know I'm going crazy because all they will say is it's all the stuff you've done to this thing.

I have a good & old brass radiator that you can use for trouble shooting if you are interested. Simply return when you are done. I have used it to verify my less than 1 year old OEM radiator was causing overheating problem last summer. My symptom was like yours. I might not be able to make it to the wrenching party. Please PM me for radiator pickup arrangement if you are interested.

 

[phxtlc]

can you post a link to the mod?

If mine is still decent I might do it while I "work" on Sunday.

Both Kevin's brother Rob and I have an electric fan on the passenger side of the condenser, both newer 80's. The e-fan made a big difference in the air conditioning at idle on both, if I remember what Rob said. Definitely on mine. However, Kevin then started modding fan clutches, and I believe he's told me he thinks the modded fan pulls more air than the unmodded fan w/ e-fan. The e-fan made no noticeable difference in engine cooling on my rig as the truck never overheated before, even while idling in the desert with the A/C on for hours.
Dollar for dollar, the e-fan install will run you several hours and $100+. The fan mod is ~$10 and 30 minutes of work, with a few hours of down time while waiting for the clutch to drain.
There's a ton of info in the 80's section of the board, if you're interested.

-Spike

 

[-Spike-]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=98684

-Spike

 

[grrlscout89FJ62]

I doubt it. To get the 8v thing, with a new battery, it would take ether a huge load or more likely a bad connection. I will bring the tester to the wrenchin day, may shed some light?

If the rad is gunked, that is probably your problem.

That would be awesome if you could use that tester thingie and may help figure out what the heck is going on.

I just bought my new radiator yesterday. I'll be bringing it to wrenching day. Hoo boy.

 

[alia176]

Hey Tool,

that foam strip on top of the radiator, what is a good replacement for it? I've been using heat tape but the glue is unsticking due to the heat.

Ali

 

[Tools R Us]

Hey Tool,

that foam strip on top of the radiator, what is a good replacement for it? I've been using heat tape but the glue is unsticking due to the heat.

Ali

I have used high density foam tape weatherstrip with good results. Any foam used needs to be closed cell, so it's waterproof, if not it will soak up water, become heavy and fall out.

The easy "self adhesive" on it isn't as sticky as well as one would hope! The way I get around that is use foam tape that's way to thick, then when the radiator is bolted back in place it's overly crushed, holding it in place. IIRC when we did Rob's last year, the biggest we could find was 3/4x3/4", so we stuck two strips together, it was plenty thick and is still working well. On the 80 there are strips on the top and bottom tanks, most of the time the bottom one falls out first. I also add some where the wire harness goes through on each side near the top tank.

 

[clarkrw3]

I have a new Brass radiator in the rig. Thanks for the offer spike. I have been driving the LX the past two days with no problems....it's only when the temp is above 112ish that it starts over heating and shutting off the ac. I don't use any tape other than the stock tape to block off the edges... and I still need a new fan shroud. I tried to add some water is wetter stuff but without draining the radiator there is no room.

my "new" blue hub was really low on CFT fluid if I remember right and you added a little bit of 20k too it. The fluid might still be a little low and if it had enough fluid to begin with It might not have overheated with the stock blue hub. My dad is having the same problem and is waiting for me to figure it out before we do the same to his. He has only changed the fan hub to a new blue one but nothing else.


This whole thing is hard to figure out because in only does in when the temps are really high. I don't think it has to do with the lights because like Kevin said it's only at idle and super slow speeds where it is relient on the fan to pull air. The ac is nice and cold at speed. I haven't had it boil over probably because I never turn it off hot...even a short distance of driving drops the temp significantly and the ac comes back on....even at 25+mph. and the new thermastat was a toyota unit from cdan

this brings me to cleaning the radiator from bugs, changing the CFT again and adding a pusher fan....and whatever Kevin tells me to do at the wrench day this sunday

 

[-Spike-]

I have a new Brass radiator in the rig. Thanks for the offer spike.

The offer was Medtro's. People often ask if we're related, 'cause our avatars are very similar. (I blatantly copied his )

-Spike

 

[alia176]

I have used high density foam tape weatherstrip with good results. Any foam used needs to be closed cell, so it's waterproof, if not it will soak up water, become heavy and fall out.

The easy "self adhesive" on it isn't as sticky as well as one would hope! The way I get around that is use foam tape that's way to thick, then when the radiator is bolted back in place it's overly crushed, holding it in place. IIRC when we did Rob's last year, the biggest we could find was 3/4x3/4", so we stuck two strips together, it was plenty thick and is still working well. On the 80 there are strips on the top and bottom tanks, most of the time the bottom one falls out first. I also add some where the wire harness goes through on each side near the top tank.

Good info, thanks. Didn't realize that there is a foam strip on the bottom too!


Ali

 

[clarkrw3]

The offer was Medtro's. People often ask if we're related, 'cause our avatars are very similar. (I blatantly copied his )

-Spike

SORRY......Thanks Jackson!!!! I have an extra Al one at home as well, I took it out and replaced it with the brass one and haven't noticed any change, It was replace for PM.

 

[medtro]

SORRY......Thanks Jackson!!!! I have an extra Al one at home as well, I took it out and replaced it with the brass one and haven't noticed any change, It was replace for PM.

No problem Rob. I thought I saw you gave an Al rad to a CSC member at the Sonic Meet

Did you see any temp gauge movement when it was overheating? I am asking this because of this thread here.

 

[clarkrw3]

Your right Jackson...I did give that one away, totally forgot about that. You have a mind like a steel trap!

 

[Epic Ed]

I bought the electric fan Kevin sold as the result of his success with the fan clutch mod. I finally got around to installing it a few weeks ago and it does make a difference in my temps at idle and in traffic but currently my fan clutch is fading fast, too. So -- new fan clutch for me this weekend at the wrench-a-thon and with the heavier fluid I expect my AC will be down right chilly at any speed. If swapping more/heavier fluid doesn't fix your problem then e-fan isn't a bad project to tackle and may make your engine happier during those extreme temps.

Ed

 

[Tools R Us]

Rob, your problem does sound like a low flow problem? Knowing you I am guessing that the replacement thermostat is Toyota? I wouldn't think that the radiator would be plugged with bug guts, it's has very few hours on it and we don't have many bugs, the condenser maybe it was run back east?

I only have fluid for maybe 3 or 4 clutches, doing Brother Rob's on that day also. Depending on how many more want to do it, it maybe be a good idea if someone stopped by the hobby store and picked up a couple of bottles of 10,000 diff fluid for R/C car diffs? I will bring the "clutch tool kit" and am willing to do as many as we can get done, but I won't be doing the R&R's!

Looking back it the list we are looking at, phxtlc, grrlscout89FJ62, Epic Ed Rob & Rob wanting to do the clutch mod? We can probably do a few more, if you want to do it post up so we have our poop in a group.

I also have some leftover foam, will toss that in the box so some air gaps can be sealed up.

 

[grrlscout89FJ62]

Looking back it the list we are looking at, phxtlc, grrlscout89FJ62, Epic Ed Rob & Rob wanting to do the clutch mod?

Yes, I'm in!