[TKOTLARZ]

i just finished putting my fuel regulator in and changing the IAC..its been sitting for the last few months..i was driving home and the temp was at lik 240 and really didnt move to much when i was stopped, to driving....there is only water in the radiator and it does have a bad radiator cap, the rubber bushing on it is swollen..would this be a thermostat problem? i know water has a different boiling point...im going to put antifreeze in it and replace the cap, but i dont think it should get that hot..

[95opal]

If your cap is not holding pressure than that would be your problem. Antifreeze will do nothing to help. JFYI I run strait water w/ 3 bottles of water wetter and never see temps more than 185. 240* lucky you didnt blow a head gasket or warp a head.

[WildWill]

i have always used a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. IMO, that gives the best result. +1 on what opal said... your cap needs to seal, so see about getting yourself a new one of those - and i don't recommend driving if you do... that's WAY to hot!

[Modified88Dreamer]

I'd also check your upper radiator hose too. Make sure it's not soft. If it is, it might be collapsing.


WildWill, was that picture in your sig taken at an airport?

[WildWill]

no actually... it was taken in a parking lot next to the Potomac River in MD. i wish i could drive down the runway at an airport!

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by TKOTLARZ i just finished putting my fuel regulator in and changing the IAC..its been sitting for the last few months..i was driving home and the temp was at lik 240 and really didnt move to much when i was stopped, to driving....there is only water in the radiator and it does have a bad radiator cap, the rubber bushing on it is swollen..would this be a thermostat problem? i know water has a different boiling point...im going to put antifreeze in it and replace the cap, but i dont think it should get that hot..

It shouldn't. I suggest you flush the complete cooling system (that includes the engine part) and refill with new coolant. Unless you live in a very cold climate, a 30/70 mix of antifreeze/distilled water will suffice. Pure water offers the best cooling but risks internal corrosion of the cooling system.
Replace the radiator cap with a new 16lb unit, replace the thermostat (test the new one in a pan of boiling water before you drop it in), and replace both upper and lower radiator hoses.
There is a very good chance that this cooling system service will solve your problem. If it doesn't, you'll need to look into other likely issues like a clogged radiator or bad water pump.

[WildWill]

what he said ^

i just had my entire cooling system flushed myself... and the car is running about 50 degrees cooler now.... more power, better mileage etc. its a good thing to do.

[TKOTLARZ]

i would i go about flushing the engine part of the cooling system?

[TKOTLARZ]

Originally Posted by 95opal If your cap is not holding pressure than that would be your problem. Antifreeze will do nothing to help. JFYI I run strait water w/ 3 bottles of water wetter and never see temps more than 185. 240* lucky you didnt blow a head gasket or warp a head.

and u dont have to fill your radiator every so often with water? and whats water wetter?

[Modified88Dreamer]

Originally Posted by TKOTLARZ whats water wetter?

Red Line Oil: Coolants and Others

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by TKOTLARZ i would i go about flushing the engine part of the cooling system?

From the top disconnect the upper radiator hose from the thermostat housing, remove the thermostat housing from the intake manifold, and remove the thermostat.
From the bottom, disconnect the lower radiator hose from the radiator.
Stick a garden hose inside the intake manifold opening and run fresh water through the system until the water coming out from the lower radiator hose is clear. This will clean out all the debris from inside the intake manifold, cylinder heads, and the block.
Once that's done, stick the garden hose inside the upper radiator hose and flush the radiator until the water coming out from the bottom of the radiator is clear.
Button everything back up again and refill the cooling system with a 30/70 mix of antifreeze/distilled water. Don't forget to make sure that the expansion reservoir is filled up to the "cold" mark. Leave the radiator cap off and start the engine. While it's idling, watch for bubbles coming from the radiator. When the bubbles stop and the water level rises up to the neck, screw the radiator cap back on tightly.
After a couple of drive cycles, recheck the coolant level in the expansion reservoir and top it up. This will be necessary because any remaining air inside the cooling system will be "burped" out into the reservoir and the space inside the system taken up by coolant from the reservoir as the engine cools down.

[flamedstang95]

Originally Posted by Bullitt95 It shouldn't. I suggest you flush the complete cooling system (that includes the engine part) and refill with new coolant. Unless you live in a very cold climate, a 30/70 mix of antifreeze/distilled water will suffice. Pure water offers the best cooling but risks internal corrosion of the cooling system. Replace the radiator cap with a new 16lb unit, replace the thermostat (test the new one in a pan of boiling water before you drop it in), and replace both upper and lower radiator hoses. There is a very good chance that this cooling system service will solve your problem. If it doesn't, you'll need to look into other likely issues like a clogged radiator or bad water pump.

I agree! Change your coolant temp sensor while you're at it too. Make sure you use the distilled water. Water out of your faucet has all kinds of chemicals in it that doesn't need to be in your cooling system. As far as using Water Wetter, it's good stuff but I like Purple Ice by Royal Purple much better.

[TKOTLARZ]

well i changed the cap and put antifreeze and water in..and it stayed around 210 but the needle was flicking a little bit. as soon as i opened her up just a little she went up to about 240-250.

[TKOTLARZ]

i waited to 180* and let the thermastat open to let coolant get into the block, heads and intake..then let the air come out..would that mean that i water pump is good?

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by TKOTLARZ well i changed the cap and put antifreeze and water in..and it stayed around 210 but the needle was flicking a little bit. as soon as i opened her up just a little she went up to about 240-250.

The fluctuating high temps. make me suspect that your thermostat is sticking closed.

[screwed by twins]

Originally Posted by Bullitt95 The fluctuating high temps. make me suspect that your thermostat is sticking closed.

yup thats what i was thinking, that shit happened to me back in the gap. just dont run it hot and blow a head gasket, if you do you'll have water in your cylinders.

[TKOTLARZ]

i think the flickering might have been air in the system..i think that will make it flick right..i put a brand new thermostat in ..the first time i drove it i didnt let the air out completely first. i got home and finished filling the cooling system up and let her cool down and she was at like 240-250 even babying her

[flamedstang95]

have you changed the coolant temp sensor yet?

[Bullitt95]

Originally Posted by TKOTLARZ i think the flickering might have been air in the system..i think that will make it flick right..i put a brand new thermostat in ..the first time i drove it i didnt let the air out completely first. i got home and finished filling the cooling system up and let her cool down and she was at like 240-250 even babying her

Park your car on a slope facing upwards, start the engine, let it idle for several minutes until it's hot enough for the thermostat to open, and hopefully any remaining air in the system will get "burped" out.

[WildWill]

maybe you should try changing the sensor like flamedstang says... maybe your thermostat is getting readings from a bad sensor, which would explain your situation!