running hot

[blackbox]

the car is running hot in the 240s and trying to figure out why it seem to be thermostat but already have changed it 3 times in the past month. When i change the thermostat and the car seems to run fine for a day then it starts to heat up again. so i pull the radiator cap off and watch the coolant and it doesn't drop at 160. The upper hose is hot but the bottom hose is cold. Is the thermostat bad again? It did this with the second thermostat so i bought the 3rd but just tested the 2nd thermostat on a hunch and it still works in hot water test. So what could cause the thermostats to get stuck so fast or what could cause the coolant not to be cirrculating.

 

[Boost231]

what thermostat are you using where did you buy it. i have seen some crappy thermostats. also what radiator are you using? how old is it? what coolant are you running? fans turning on when they should?

 

[Turbo T-type]

Temps

I just had the same problem. I ended up putting a new 160 thermostat and new stock radiator in the car. Now The temps don't even reach 190. This week has been a little colder and it barely hits 160.

 

[blackbox]

the t-stat is a 160 from kirbans, im using a gbody parts 3 core aluminum radiator brand new just installed last week, preston coolant and fans turn on always at 164*.

 

[waddell87]

Try leaving the thermostat out and see what happens, if the lower rad hose still remains cold and you over heat you have a blockage somewhere, possibly the lower rad hose is plugged from decay HTH

 

[blackbox]

tried to leave the t-stat out and the lower hose did get hot so no blockage. Is it the thermostat because it was cold with it in. How does 2 new t-stats brake in 3 weeks.

 

[blackbox]

tested the t-stat i took off a minute ago and it works. When it was on the car it seemed like it didn't. Couple days ago i was checking the car out and the radiator fluid did not go down at 160* and the lower hose was cold. What could cause this

 

[Boost231]

this might sound dumb but is the t-stat in correctly?

 

[blackbox]

i think it is. It goes in with the spring facing the back of the car right.

 

[blackbox]

i just ran the car right now with no t stat and the car did not over heat at idle. Would not go over 160*. The last time i changed the t-stat car cold fine until i stoped at home and sat and let the car idle. Driving was fine 168* at most. Did not test it right now while driving though. Is the stock fan ok for my applications?

 

[Boost231]

yes spring towards the back of the car. Also the stock fan should be good for your setup. humm

 

[blackbox]

how do i check if the high speed is working

 

[blackbox]

took the car for a drive without the thermostat and the car didn't go above 165* even after i gave it about 15 lbs of boost. The hotest it got was when i came home and parked it, 167*. My wife had a turbo eclipse and she blew a head gasket and we new somthing was wrong right away. So can i blow a HG in these cars without knowing and if i did would you see alot of smoke coming out when you drive or punch it.

 

[waddell87]

you would know it if you blew a HG, ya alot of white smoke for one.
Check the High speed relay, and all fuses. sounds like your getting enough air flow to keep it cool while driving with the fan on low but when parking fan isn't kicking into high when it needs to, would probably get hot to if you did a couple WOT blasts. Schematics on gnttype.org. HTH

oh if you r driving around w/o the thermostat, maybe lucky number 4 will work properly, ensure it says 160* on it