Car's running hot...
 

Hello,

My car has been running hot and I am not sure what to do about it :). Ok, here is everything that has happened since it was running normally.

My car was low on oil and my front light was out. The light lense was filled with water (passenger side) so I drilled some holes in it to drain the water. I also replaced the oil with synthetic (was running conventional). After this is done, I started driving down to PR (Pacific Raceways, formally SIR), and I noticed my car was running really hot. I stopped at some gas station and tossed water into the radiator. It helped for a little bit.

When I got home (decided not to race :)), I noticed I was really low on radiator fluid. I filled it up all the way and put in some water wetter. It ran really cool for a few days, but now it is running hot again.

Before I replaced the coolant it was redlined at one point and apparently REALLY hot. It's not quite as hot anymore, but the needle stays about 3/4 of the way up after the car is warmed up.

Wierdest thing is that the tempurature on changes like 25 degrees in ~3-4 seconds when I turn on my lights.

Any ideas what the hell my car is doing?!?!

Thanks!
DoranW

How long has it been since you changed that thermostat? And what degree is it? It almost sounds like the thermo is stuck closed. Or you have some air trapped in the system somewhere. Let us know some more info on what you have as far as cooling methods. I.E. stock radiator, old water pump, etc.

Stock everything...New water pump (less than 10k miles since install).

Just bizzarre because it started doing it all of a sudden that day.

I will have to check the records, but I have not changed the thermo in the time I have had the car (2 years).

What else would you like me to check out?

THanks,
DoranW

BTW, your quote in your signature is awesome :).

No more than a thermostat costs, I would replace it. Get a 180 degree or higher. I believe the stocker is 192. Don't get a 160. Most people tend to have many problems with anything much lower than a 180. Will you be performing this yourself, or have someone do it for you? IF you are not doing it yourself, then I don't know if would pay someone to do that when I wasn't for sure. Hope this helps.

What kind of gauge are you using? Have you run a compression test? Is there any sign of water in the oil?

Take care,
-Chris

I'll be doing it. What are the advantages of going with a 180 degree thermo as apposed to just replacing the stock one?

Thanks,
DoranW

A 180 will make your car run cooler than a stock one. But not much difference. Since you are doing this yourself, I would change it anyway. Especially when you don't know when it was last changed. I forgot to mention what pkrwud said. It very well could be your stock gauge if that is what you are running. But probably not since you were low on coolant. Check your oil, look for water in it. And if you can, run a compression test as pkrwud suggested. Those results will definitely help.

On my quote, I have that sticker on the rear windshield of my stang. Glad you liked it. I thought it was pretty cool too.

one more thing I forgot to mention. Check the fan clutch. If you are not already running an electric one.