Overheating (only in summer) already burped it.

M

Myco

Registered
Burped the car. Still overheating.

Either:

A. Not entirely burped. When it overheats the needle goes up, then down, then back up, then back down. Gradually climbing. It does not go up and stay up.

B. Clogged radiator.
C. Bad water pump.
D. Blown headgasket. ( there is a tick from the engine sometimes)

Things to note:
Not loosing coolant.
Heater core is bypassed.
Not loosing coolant through the reservoire cap.
Can see the fluid running when I take the crossover cap off.


History is: Bought the car in July (end of summer) last year. On the couple hot days I had it it did overheat a couple times (nothing majory). Then I put it up on stands for a couple weeks while I redid the suspension. Afterwards it never overheated again until this summer when It got hot again.

Another thing to note is that when I put in the antifreeze through the burp valve with the funnel I could see dirty brown fluid coming up into the new antifreeze that was in the funnel. Indicating bad/clogged radiator??

Waiting for the car to cool again to try to burp it again. I burped it yesterday where it did burp. Then tried it again this morning with no results. Now going to try again.

suggestions?
 
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Did you fill it at the crossover pipe and WATCH the overflow bottle until it got up to the full mark? I had to go for a short ride then come back and refill thru the crossover maybe 3 times.....
 
I'm trying to find if the fan fuse is popped. Which is the fuse for the fan? last year the fan was running ALL the time near the end of the summer. I'm wondering if the fan is going out. The blower for the ac/heat is not working and I've put off trying to trouble shoot that right now so I haven't been able to tell if the fan is coming on or off. Guess I can turn the AC on max and see if it runs the fan.
 
I vote for the radiator.

The radiator is a simple heat exchanger. As the weather warms, there is less heat exchanged. Also, the heater core is in itself a mini-radiator. As such, with it bypassed, you have a cooling capacity deficit.
 
I read in another thread the # 23 fuse was for the fan. On my fusebox the fuse there is missing. Actually, there are 4 or 5 missing.
 
driller said:
I vote for the radiator.

The radiator is a simple heat exchanger. As the weather warms, there is less heat exchanged. Also, the heater core is in itself a mini-radiator. As such, with it bypassed, you have a cooling capacity deficit.
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True driller. I'm aware. This was happening last summer before the heater core was bypassed. That's new. I'm leaning toward the radiator also. Where do you pick up new ones?
 
Turn the AC on max to test the cooling fan. The fan should be on full speed with the AC on max.

One of our sponsors, SuperCoupe Performance, sells replacement radiators.
 
Before you put a new radiator in be sure you have flushed the system of all the junk that was floating around.
 
I know how to flush the radiator. How do you 'easily' flush the engine? Someone told me one time there is a process that is quite in-depth.
 
Easiest way is to drain radiator, refill with water, run until hot and thermostat opens. Drain again... careful, don't burn yourself. Repeat. Should be clean enough.

Ya know, have you tested the overfill tank cap for proper pressure? I wonder if maybe it is holding TOO MUCH pressure
 
Myco said:
I know how to flush the radiator. How do you 'easily' flush the engine? Someone told me one time there is a process that is quite in-depth.
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Prestone makes a backflush kit for $20 or so. Comes with hardware to connect a garden hose directly, and forces water to run in the reverse direction it normally goes, even with the engine running.
 
budpytko said:
Easiest way is to drain radiator, refill with water, run until hot and thermostat opens. Drain again... careful, don't burn yourself. Repeat. Should be clean enough.

Ya know, have you tested the overfill tank cap for proper pressure? I wonder if maybe it is holding TOO MUCH pressure
Click to expand...


Really. This would be strange but not unheard of. I'll keep it in mind. I got the car toward the end of summer last year and that is when the problem arose, but before I bought it the previous owner let the car sit for about a year in his x-wife's driveway. I'd suspect a clogged radiator before the cap. Wouldn't know how to test the cap anyway.
 
logres said:
Prestone makes a backflush kit for $20 or so. Comes with hardware to connect a garden hose directly, and forces water to run in the reverse direction it normally goes, even with the engine running.
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Wonder if this works. I've heard of these things.
 
jrmark8 said:
Change the T-stat since your at it, a cheap simple fix but messy
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Already bought. If I do the radiator I'll do that. Since I don't want to wait on shipping. Does anyone know which radiator is better. There are two types available at autozone and another type at orielly's.
 
They don't show any info on the web site so you will have to ask the store. I have used some sites in the past that specialize in radiators and they were very good. I had mine the next day as they ship regionaly. The typical difference you will see is that if it is and aluminum unit the end caps on the cheaper units are plastic, and on the more expensive they are aluminum (supposed to make them also a little more efficent).
 
I decided to go ahead and change out the thermostat. When I pulled out the old one. It was stock. The holes in it that allow fluid and air bubbles to move from one side to the other were clogged. I put in a new one and when I put in the fluid one side was leaking. I got under to torque it down a bit and the side of the thermostat housing cracked. Now I have to wait for the ford dealership to open tomorrow to put a new one in. :mad: So much more work to get that entire housing off.
 
Get the Prestone backflush kit like mentioned above and backflush your system before you put any new stuff in line, and also double check those hoses on the housing for cracks and dry rot.
 
I haven't bought the backflow kit. Ordering it now. (gotta find it first) I have changed the thermostat though.

edit: hmm.. says they have it at orielly and autozone. I'll check that out. It's my last resort before going to a new radiator.
 
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