Fan clutch mod/over heating/water temps

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clarkrw3

clarkrw3

Joined
Nov 29, 2004
Threads
54
Messages
1,573
Location
Tempe, AZ
So as many of you know I have had a problem with water temps in the summers when it is very hot outside like today 106deg. I recently got a scangauge II and thought I would finally try and get to the bottom of this problem.

Things we have tried.

Changed the rad. to brass unit
changed the thermostat
changed coolant flushed twice
changed fan hub to blue unit
changed fluid in the blue hub twice to thicker fluid
Made foam and shroud were in correct places around radiator


Info from today

outside temp 106-110
intake charge 128-138 while driving
intake charge 145-155 while in drive through at In and Out
water temp on freeway 191-195
water temp at stop lights 198-202
water temp at InO 198-211

at rest with foot on brake RPM's are just under 700
in park they rise to just under 900

If I put it in park and rev to 1500-2000rpm the temp goes back down to 195-198 in a min or two


So I have come up with a couple of things....It is safe to assume that I am not getting enough airflow through the rad during stops! Is my idel set too low? Do I just need to hook up the pusher fan I already have? Do I need a new water pump? (I doubt) Do I need even thicker fluid in the fan clutch? Do I scrap the truck and try again with another truck??:D Do I keep doing the same thing and leave my truck in the garage for the summer months??:hhmm::hhmm:


I am also cross posting this in the fan clutch thread.
 
Frankly, I'm not getting what the problem is. Those temps seem reasonable to me for PHX summer driving.

Is it boiling over?
 
Cdaniel said:
Frankly, I'm not getting what the problem is. Those temps seem reasonable to me for PHX summer driving.

Is it boiling over?
Click to expand...

Agree, IIRC the 80 is designed for 190F, that's what the thermostat regulates the minimum temp to, with load and/or idling in AZ heat it will be slightly higher.
 
once at about 207 the ac starts getting warmer and by 212 it gets close to cutting out....


tools, what are some of your temps while city driving?
 
clarkrw3 said:
once at about 207 the ac starts getting warmer and by 212 it gets close to cutting out....


tools, what are some of your temps while city driving?
Click to expand...

If it's A/C performance at idle you're chasing, the answer is move more air. Plain and simple.

Also look at getting the charge checked by a competent A/C tech. Not just some gauge in a recharge kit either. The R134 refrig is pretty picky about the charge being in "the zone".
 
The other problem I see is that it seems that without intervention by revving the throttle the temp will rise unchecked until ...boiling point and or ac shut off. While I do expect higher temps in AZ in the summer I don't think this is normal well operating performance.
 
clarkrw3 said:
The other problem I see is that it seems that without intervention by revving the throttle the temp will rise unchecked until ...boiling point and or ac shut off.
Click to expand...

How long you had to idle to get this on a HOT day?

I had the same thing happened with a 8 months old Toyota OEM radiator, the radiator was clogged. I had the rad rodded out, problem solved. I know you have a new radiator, but have you checked if it is clogged. What is the temperature difference between the top and bottom radiator after a long hot drive?
 
Sounds fine. An additional fan helped my truck's A/C, but I was going to try the thicker fluid in the fan clutch on my wife's, per Tools' advice/experience. Your truck isn't overheating if it's not going well over 220*.

-Spike
 
clarkrw3 said:
Info from today

outside temp 106-110
intake charge 128-138 while driving
intake charge 145-155 while in drive through at In and Out
water temp on freeway 191-195
water temp at stop lights 198-202
water temp at InO 198-211
Click to expand...

those are right in line with my scanguage numbers for really hot day.
in the winter months i'm getting pretty similar numbers for freeway
in the 188 to 192 range and high of about 196 - 198 at stoplights...
 
clarkrw3 said:
Do I scrap the truck and try again with another truck??:D
Click to expand...


As soon as your ready to send her to scrap I'll come pick her up....just give me a call when your ready!:grinpimp::flipoff2:
 
Don't know what my numbers are, but seems thats around normal. I only had my AC kick out once, however, and that was under extreme circumstances idling for 1/2 hour in the sun on a hot trail. (remember that Desoto mine trip with the trail teams)

IIRC, you have some 9" lights in front of your grill. Ever thought those might be restricting some of your airflow. Maybe an aux fan would help that out a bit.
 
I think my next plan of action is to hook up the pusher fan to come on with the ac and to take the truck to make sure the ac is charged correctly.

So my next question...anyone know of a good AC shop in the valley that knows what they are doing and wont rip me off???
 
I agree with Alvin and Jo Maoma. Those numbers look normal. I am in Crested Butte where the OAT is 75 degrees and my Scanguage indicates up to 192 on the hills driving 60, no A/C on. Level ground indicates about 185-187 at these temps. T
 
clarkrw3 said:
The other problem I see is that it seems that without intervention by revving the throttle the temp will rise unchecked until ...boiling point and or ac shut off. While I do expect higher temps in AZ in the summer I don't think this is normal well operating performance.
Click to expand...

The "..boiling point and or ac shut off" thing equals something isn't right. Mine has never had ether, even with the stock clutch. Under the hood your is pretty stock, no second battery, etc to screwup airflow, correct?
 
When you get to the A/C shop make sure you tell them test for whatever system controls could cause an over pressure situation. If it's shutting down because of heat. The system is protecting it's self from damage.

I guess it would be good to know what you mean by "shut down"?

Is it still blowing but just not so cool air? No air at all from the vents?
Is the compressor switching off?
 
Cdaniel said:
When you get to the A/C shop make sure you tell them test for whatever system controls could cause an over pressure situation. If it's shutting down because of heat. The system is protecting it's self from damage.

I guess it would be good to know what you mean by "shut down"?

Is it still blowing but just not so cool air? No air at all from the vents?
Is the compressor switching off?
Click to expand...

Power to the compressor is interrupted when W/T reaches ~226degrees and will repower when W/T drops, fan continues to run threw the whole process.
 
Yes, so the fan always blows the a/c just gets warm above 202 and gets to the point of no cooling at all at about 212. This I think would be cause for an a/c charge, correct? BTW if no one knows of a good AC shop would the Lexus dealer be a safe option? I let it idle outside my house for 25min after driving for 45min at 1:00pm and if never got over 207, however it wasn't as hot yesterday. Like I have said before this is a problem with ambient temps over 110. I took it out on some back roads around my house today and it never got over 204. I guess what his means is I need to get more data and most likely it is more of a AC problem than a cooling problem maybe just the pusher and recharge will fix all of my problems. My wife says she never is cool in the truck in the summer (it never cools off enough) BTW when I let it idle in the drive my intake temps were up to 170deg and still the WT never got over 207.

tools Yes my truck is mostly stock under the hood..no second battery try etc.

One other most likely very unrelated thing is the truck smells like gas after running the last few days the garage smells very strong like gas after the truck has been pulled in I can't find any leak and nothing drips. Is there any known week areas with the fuel system that might be a point to start looking?
 
If the compressor isn't shutting off and your getting less than cool air at the vent, it's quite likely you've got a low charge. Other problems are possible though.

I'd get the system checked out before adding an extra fan. Seems Toyota would have had it all worked out. Or are these rigs prone to poor A/C performance?

Gas vapors, hot fuel venting. Bad seal on the fill cap? bad hose some where?
 
Everything your saying sounds like low airflow, I don't remember what fluid we put in your clutch? It was early in the clutch experimenting and I was being conservative. When it's idling and hot, do you feel hot air blowing out from under the truck, at the front tires, near the driver's door, strong suction at the grill?

The fuel smell is must likely a bad cap.
 
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