Engine Temp

Sparrow · tinkerer Joined: 08 Oct 2001 Posts: 171

yeah...

...my little 1600 has been running a little hot over the last couple of months...

The standard temp guage rarely went over the half way mark on the scale (only when driving at speeds in excess of 140k/hour... and in traffic it used to sit on about one quarter -no higher...
Now, however, it is not uncommon for my temperature to read over the three quarter mark ... and sometimes on the highway it almost reads full on the scale!! (...i'm waiting for the bomb to explode soon ...)

I reverse flushed the block and radiator, hosed out the radiator core, topped up with new coolant, replaced all hoses and changed the oil and oil filter. No fluids ever leaked in the system... The only other suspect component now is the water pump...
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Is a worn out water pump likely to cause higher engine temperatures...???????
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The other possibility is the fact that the weather here in Brisbane has been fucking hot for the last two months... But i think that mechanical failure is contributing the excess heat in my Gemini engine.

Suggestions....???

(Yeah... i also hooked up two water jets that spray water across the radiator as you drive to help cool the system... similar to the water spray across the front of an intercooler... I made the unit out of fish tank tubing, garden sprinklers and a twelve volt water pump (from the window washers). The nifty invention did fuck all to cool my radiator or lower engine temperatures !!! ) It was a cool idea at the time but while sitting around sinking beer one night ...

Racegem · backyard mechanic Joined: 30 Jan 2002 Posts: 987

To answer the question in the middle........certainly would. However.....

...simple things first. The lil' ol' thermostat would be the first thing I'd try. (you dont mention you've done it) Could be jammed and allowing a pissy amount of water to circulate. If in doubt, remove it and see if it gets as hot. But don't leave it out as it can cause other problems.

There are heaps of other possibilities, would take a page + 1/2, try that first.

Yonnee.

Slug · tinkerer Joined: 06 Oct 2001 Posts: 196

I would put money on it being the radiator, the problems at 140 kms gives it away. have it rod cleaned or recored.. Michael

Racegem · backyard mechanic Joined: 30 Jan 2002 Posts: 987

Was going to get to that. Reverse flushing the radiator only removes the loose bits, not the stuff stuck in the cores, effectively only giving you half the cooling efficiency. Means you've got to take the radiator out and to a radiator specialist and have them remove the top and bottom tanks.

Yonnee

Ben Wight · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 946

I just got a new 3 row core, cost 230 all up, including welding my old tanks and mounting brackets onto the new core.

My radiator guy looked in his book, you could get a new 2 or 3 row core.

Very cheap

Ben Wight

Fastgem · tinkerer Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 166

230? My 3 core was only $170 fitted. Too easy. Well worth it though, considering my engine would over heat in about 5 minutes with a stock ratiator.

Gold TX Sleeper · backyard mechanic Joined: 05 Feb 2002 Posts: 509

My money would be on the thermostat, just as Yonnee sugested. So for only a few dollars, replace it for peace of mind. And if it's not the problem you know it wont ever be for a long while to come.

Nathan · tinkerer Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 74

if you say you've done all that and it's been happening all the time lately then your temp gauge could be fucked

Ben Wight · backyard mechanic Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 946

Geez, I got ripped off bigtime! And here I was thinking I got a bargain. Little does he know, that I was prepared to pay $300 though.