overheating

Discussion in 'General Turbo Buick Tech' started by Spoolin Hooligan, Mar 19, 2012.

  1. groumoutis Active Member

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    If you are getting your temp from the scanmaster it gets it's temp reading from the sensor next to the thermostat. It is got to 230 then the thermostat should have opened and let the bubble out. I fought temp issues two summers ago and finally won the fight last spring. From what I understand the fan is told by the ECM to turn the fan on when the temp reaches the chips set point. So it sounds to me like either your relay, fuse or fan is fried. If it was me I would first check the fuse then Hotwire the fan and lastly check the relay.

    If you are still running the factory radiator you probably need to pull it and install an f-body radiator. $100 for the radiator is a great deal cheaper than replacing the motor. My temps went from 210 to 165 with the radiator swap. Other than the Alkycontrol it is the best money I have spent on the car.
  2. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    Ill look into a new radiator but for now. I want it running without destroying my engine so I'm checking the thermostat this weekend. And see if that works on and change the oil I just replaced cause it is probably ruined from running it so hot
  3. groumoutis Active Member

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    If the fan isn't coming on you should look there first.
  4. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    I think that contributes to the problem but I don't think that would make the engine temp get over 230
  5. groumoutis Active Member

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    This is just my thoughts. You blew a radiator hose and your fan doesn't work. There is a good chance the fan quit causing the hose to blow. Trust me if the fan isn't working the engine can and will get to 230. Unless it is like 40 degrees or colder out. This is especially true if your radiator isn't as cooling as well as it should.

    Last year I accidentally unplugged the relay with the fender cover over it while working on the engine. I have the new radiator and a good 160 thermostat and new water pump in the car. I drove it the next day and the temps got up over 210 in a short time while driving in town.

    It is your car and you can do as you please. I have been down this road and want you to Get to the track and. Eat up on some V-8's.
  6. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    Thanks ill check that out but need to replace my oil now to. How fast should my antifreeze be moving in My car cause it wasn't moving that fast
  7. groumoutis Active Member

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    Even with the new radiator and water pump my car doesn't gush the water through the radiator but it does flow through pretty good. If you lower the level of the radiator down below a few of the tubes and start it it should be like a drinking fountain flow but not like a sink turned all the way up. You want the water to have enough time in the radiator and the engine to actually be able to transfer heat. If the water flows to fast in either one it won't be able to transfer the heat.

    When I was having my overheating problems I flushed the system and it helped a little so I boiled out the radiator and that helped even more but the radiator core started weeping where the core meets the tanks. At that point I say f@!: it and bought the f-body radiator. That pretty much fixed the problem. When I run my A/C on hot days the temp does come up to 190-200 while sitting idle because the fan just doesn't move enough air across the radiator with the A/C condenser creating the extra heat.
  8. Grumpy Thread killer

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    ya Buick put the COOLING fan in there just to mess with your head :rolleyes:
    williamsGN likes this.
  9. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    Thanks I've learned so much from this thread. this website has improved my mechanical knowledge two fold
  10. ~JM~ Active Member

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    Whenever I've replaced a T'stat I've drilled a small hole through it to release any trapped air. I didn't try it on my T-Types t'stat this last time because it was so small. You might want to give it a shot if you take the 'stat out again.

    ~JM~
  11. turbo nasty Goat Milk Racing

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    Get the fan fixed First!!!
  12. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    will do i hope its just a fuse
  13. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    So its not a fuse cause it doesn't have one its wired from the started to a relay. And I pulled the relays out to check and they look burnt could that be the problem.
  14. turbo nasty Goat Milk Racing

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    Get a voltmeter like recommended. And yes, if its burnt then it could be bad. Your getting alot of great advice from people, be sure and use it. Sounds like a wiring cluster
  15. Squid4life Well-Known Member

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    Post a pic of the relay. Often they are coated with grease by the contacts and look melted, but still work fine. Just don't want you wasting your money there if you don't have to.
  16. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    And I appreciate all the great advice but keeping the car at my parents so I only get to work on it twice a week at best. So my replies may take a while
  17. Red C5 www.alradco.com

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    Is it overheating on the hwy or around town?
  18. Spoolin Hooligan Off the wagon Boost Addict

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    Both but I have a front mount intercooler so it's blocking the air Il from going over the radiator
  19. Red C5 www.alradco.com

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    On the hwy you don't need the fan so your problem probably goes beyond that. Sounds like the thermostat is working since it's circulating. I'd start by fixing the fan and doing a good flush. Your radiator could be a bit plugged. Last year I got stranded with the family on a trip when our truck started oveheating. It got bad fast. Turned out it was a plugged radiator. With the car at operating temp, how does the radiator feel on the fins? Are there any cool spots compared to the other area?

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