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Car overheating - need opinions
The car is a 90LX 5.0
My car is loosing coolant bad from what appears to be the overflow tank. What would be causing this? It's coming out of the spout at the top of the tank. It looks like the tank is getting too full and it's running over. Which way does the coolant flow through the radiator? Does it come in the bottom hose and out through the upper? My opinion is that my radiator is getting plugged up and it's pushing the water over the top before it can make it's way through the radiator. But that would only be the case if the water enters the radiator on the driver's side through the lower hose. Thanks. ------------------ Indiana Stangers Association Buy your parts here |
sounds like you have some massive air bubbles in your radiator or you are overfilling the thing with coolant...let the thing run for a while with the cap off and see if there are any bubbles that surface...
------------------ 1992 5.0 LX, V-1 S-Trim @8LBS, Edelbrock 6037 Heads, Cobra Intake,E-303, 1.6 Roller Rockers,65MM Holley TB, 75 MM Pro M Mass Air, 190 LPH FP w/ 24 lb injectors,MSD 6A and BTM, BBK equal length shorties, offroad h-pipe,Mac Flowpath Mufflers, Pro 5.0, 3.73's,Motorsport "C" springs,welded subframe connectors, Ponies w/ 225/50 Nittos, Dark Green w/ 93 Cobra Spoiler Daily driver: 89 Coupe with 207K plus, BBK shorties,offroad h-pipe,2-chamber flowmasters with dumps |
First thing I would check for is overheating. Is it bubbling or just overfilling? Thermostat been replaced?
If your overflow tank is cracked, that wouldn't surprise me at all. Pretty common, at least among guys with 'Stangs around where I live. If it's actually spilling out that spout at the top, then you have a) too much coolant in your overflow tank, or b) a non-functioning radiator cap. Did you see those markings cast into the overflow tank for "FULL COLD" and "FULL HOT"? That's the maximum it should be filled to at given conditions (hot or cold). If your radiator cap hasn't been replaced in the past 2 years, I'd at LEAST have it tested and check out the seals. Hell, for $3, you can have a functioning new one, so I'd go that way. Hope this helps! http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch http://smilecwm.tripod.com/net3/wink2.gif [This message has been edited by Capri306 (edited 03-09-2001).] |
Good advice from Capri306.
Make sure you haven't overfilled with coolant first. Your topic says the car is actually overheating. Is it or is it just overflowing from the reservoir? If it is just overflowing, then you have too much coolant. If it is overflowing AND overheating, then, most likely, the water is not being cooled efficiently enough. Thus as stated b4, I would have the radiator check out first and then thermostat. When was the thermo replaced? Last few years? Maybe time for replacement. Lastly, I believe the water flows out of the radiator through the bottom right hose (if you are facing the firewall), into the engine and out from the engine, through the top left hose (while facing firewall) into the radiator. ------------------------------- '79 Mustang Coup 4" Cowl Weld wheels (15x6;15x8) Stock 5.8L C4 w/ shift kit 1.5" MAC full length headers Holley 750 CFM Edelbrock intake 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters 8.8" Rear end w/ 3.55 gears (Now that's more like it!!) http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif Front: 225/60/15 Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II 14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup soon) http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/cool.gif "Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body |
You're right, it flows into the engine from the lower hose on the right. Through the engine and out back through the upper radiator hose into the radiator.
------------------ 87 GT Full exhaust, K&N, KB Subs, BBK STB, homeade dumps... 87 Taurus New York Winters Bite! |
OK, I'm not that much of a newbie http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/tongue.gif I know about not overfilling the overflow tank. It's not cracked either. It's coming from the spout at the top of the tank. I'll try getting a new cap and see if that helps. I had a guy tell me the exact same thing at work today and he's a Ford guru.
The coolant is actually getting low enough that the car overheats. I was thinking it was the water pump because I saw a few droplets in the weep hole awhile back. But I'm certain that's not the problem now because I've kept my eye on that and have never seen it since and the pump isn't making any ticking noises that would indicate a pump going out. I was told by the same guy that if my head gasket is burnt between a water jacket and the cylinder that it could cause pressure from the cylinder to build up inside the radiator and cause it to do this. Could that be my problem? I have absolutely no water in my oil and vice versa so I assume my head gasket is fine. I'll let it warm up tomorrow and check for bubbles. The thermostat hasn't been replaced since I've owned the car (almost a year) mainly because I haven't had any cooling problems at all. It kinda started all of a sudden a couple weeks ago. I have a new one already that was to be installed with my heads in a couple weeks so I'll try that too. Should I try to find a shop to have the radiator flushed too or just go buy a BeCool aluminum radiator =) ------------------ Indiana Stangers Association Buy your parts here [This message has been edited by 2FastLX (edited 03-10-2001).] |
I know this sounds way too obvious but check the hoses that run to and from your overflow tank, make sure the draw line isnt pinched. If it is, you will lose coolant and none will be drawn to replenish it. My wifes car all of a sudden would skyrocket to overheat in a matter of a few minutes all because the pickup hose was pinched.
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I was wondering about that too because it looks like it is.
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Do you still have the stock fan?
I went through the same thing not too long ago, it turned out that the clutch on the fan was shot and the bearings were too from the motor being too low on the POS motor mounts. The fan would barely spin it was so bad!!! I hope ya figure it out, man! Good luck! ------------------ Joe! 1988 GT, 167,000 miles!!! 13.71@105mph Check out my listing! Click here! Or my website: www.joe4speed.com 1999 Ninja ZX-6R 10.32@135mph! |
Yeah, I still have the stock fan. I have been waiting until I could afford an aluminum radiator and Black Magic electric fan. My platic fan looks like it's ready to fly apart with all the cracks in it =P
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If that hose is pinched, replace it and see how it runs. Cost me .75 to fix my wifes car. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif
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I just cut the end off a little bit and there was still plenty to reach. No more kink.
No I have another question... What do you use to flush the radiator? My brother said vinegar. Is there anything better? I am going to pull the radiator before I put anything in it. Please respond on this ASAP as I need to get going. To give you guys something else to think about, I fired it up with the radiator cap off and the coolant level started rising and flowing into the overflow tank within a minutes time. It kept going and going and going... Does this sound like I might have a plugged radiator (as I suspected to begin with)? I am going to replace the thermostat which I am also suspecting is stuck open since the coolant was flowing before the car even started to warm up. Thanks. ------------------ Indiana Stangers Association Buy your parts here |
Well, I just found out that it is in fact a head gasket http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/frown.gif
The coolant just started showing signs of oil after I shut it down awhile ago. I gotta start a new thread now. ------------------ Indiana Stangers Association Buy your parts here |
http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/frown.gif oh no.... Sorry to hear that, man...
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It's not all that big a deal really. I was planning on yanking the heads anyhow here in a couple weeks. I am already down to the lower intake. Once I get that off it's on to the heads =) What head gaskets should I use?
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Fel-Pro's.
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