TTA getting a little warm

[TT/Ameasap]

Had the car out in 75 degree weather today and the temp climbs gradually to 200 in town. I drove the interstate way back home 10 miles and it would fight to come back down to 195.
I have distilled water, RMI25 and water wetter in the radiator with a 16psi cap. What gives?

 

[Red C5]

Is the radiator original? How old is the water pump? What did it use to run at?

 

[tta983]

My TTA would run a little warm in town until I installed the Caspers fan mod switch. It lets the highspeed fan run, even when the ac is not on. With the switch in the high speed position even with the car turned off it would let the fan run for 8 minutes to cool the engine down. Even when the outside temp is above 90 it keeps it much cooler. It is a great mod that is plug and play and it keeps it much cooler than before. I even have a new radiator and 160 deg. thermostat but I needed more so I use this mod.

http://www.casperselectronics.com/store2/product_info.php?cPath=61_11_65&products_id=630

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Stock rad. flushed by me a few days ago.
I drove the car 200 miles in 50 degree temps without a problem and without the high speed fan. Around town was fine too.
I have both fans on now.. The chip starts the low speed and I have a toggle switch for the high speed thats on all the time.
The only thing I have not done, is tilt the car up when I changed fluid to get all air bubbles out. would that really make a big difference?

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Put the car on ramps and it took maybe a quart of water. No fans on...Ran it from ambient to 165... Thermostat engages and back down to 153...back to 168 with the chip engaging the low speed fan... Stayed there forever.
Haven't driven it yet, but I dont think 1 quart would give me these problems.

 

[jarredsoon]

Have you ever put the gm sealant tabs in the coolong system? I did that with my weber motor and temps were pretty steady.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

No. never used them. Maybe I'll give that a try. I have everything else in there...lol

 

[TT/Ameasap]

90°s today, so I thought I would put the tabs in and go for a ride. I let it idle for 15 minutes to work the tabs in a little and she held at 168. I started driving and 5 miles down the road went to 185. Returned home at 195. Said skrew this and took it out on the interstate and went to 205. Back home was at 212.
Dont know what else to do but compression check and pull the rad and flush it with hose.

 

[jarredsoon]

Is it the original rad?? Seems like air in the cooling system. How much boost are you running, I believe that happened to me once when I was boosting and lifted a head. Motor ran fine in vacuum and then when in boost compression would enter the cooling system. Ended up replacing head gaskets and using studs rather than arp bolts.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

original rad. havnt been past 18psi since the problem.

 

[jarredsoon]

hmmm.... well maybe a rad flush will solve your problem. I bought a new one a few years ago and didn't need to worry about 24 years of water calcification. Maybe someone on the board will know a good decalcifier, like CLR or something. I am not sure if that stuff is safe for rads but might be an idea.

 

[Rodney87GN]

Is the air dam underneath the nose still there or intact? Since there is no open grille on the TTA that air dam is the only way to get air to the radiator especially at highway speeds. That piece makes a big difference!

The air dam hangs low so it's the first thing to scrape and possibly get damaged or ripped off.

 

[Nick Micale]

Like many items on a car, the radiator will "wear out" after many years even if low miles?

The solder joints come loose, crud will build up and clog tubes that are then completely plugged.

A simple test is just remove the thermostat and check temps again with similar driving.

When we were checking all original radiators we replaced, local or returned cores, after 1999 we never found one that would flow test over 50% by a visual flow test with the end tank removed.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Looky what I found!!! A freakin BAG! and Lots of hair mixed with lint webbed together along all the fins. The lint pic is one swipe!! Many more swipes were made! Car runs great now!!! Thanks for all the help. Im running cool.

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Just wanted to add.. This bag was spread out across the high speed section in between the rad and condenser. All of the hair and lint was on the same side.

 

[1fastcobra]

Looky what I found!!! A freakin BAG! and Lots of hair mixed with lint webbed together along all the fins. The lint pic is one swipe!! Many more swipes were made! Car runs great now!!! Thanks for all the help. Im running cool.
View attachment 192399View attachment 192400

Man when u wanna get rid of some one
Do it a different way. Lol

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

 

[dvernst]

OK now you have all your problems ironed out. Time to start running e85!

 

[TT/Ameasap]

Man when u wanna get rid of some one
Do it a different way. Lol

Posted from the TurboBuick.Com mobile app

I think every TTA owner should have a look in there....never know WHAT your gonna find!

 

[TT/Ameasap]

OK now you have all your problems ironed out. Time to start running e85!

Ya. Relocating LC1 tomorrow if everything goes good and check valve will arrive tomorrow too.
I'm currently running pig rich, low timing, low boost. That's all gonna change soon!!! E85 conversion will be gradual. Got the pump mounted and a good diagram of how it's all going in.