18RG running too hot

[shewiththe18RG]

Ever since the 18RG was put it, normal running temp seems to be at the two-thirds mark on the temp gauge (RA28), but a few days ago I noticed it creeping up into the red, so I put the heater on just to be safe....

The last couple of days, driving to and from work I've had to have the heater on half speed the whole time just to maintain the temp it used to sit comfortably at.

It heats up quicker when I'm driving, if I'm idling it only creeps up slowly.

The engine is otherwise running quite well. Had it tuned a couple of months back and have been happy with it since.

Put a new thermostat in today, but that wasn't the problem.

Drive belt is tight, fan spinning, can't hear any worn bearing sounds from the water pump.

I've drained and replaced coolant a couple of times recently, don't think it would be a blockage but I'll get my bro to flush the system this week incase it's that...

No leaks that I can find.

Don't think it's the head gasket as it's still running nicely and my oil looks normal.

Water pump? Can it die without showing obvious signs?

Can anyone tell me roughly what the temperature actually is on the gauge.?.. Like what the temp is at the two thirds line etc.. Ever since going from the RC to the RG, the reading went up about a third.

Any help would be muchly appreciated! Thanks for reading!

Tiffany.

[DQIKST]

are the temp senders the same????

could be a blocked radiator, check all your hoses esp the heater tap as they wear out

[SillyCarS]

change the thermostat first, they are cheap as chips and usually solved that prob for me with my rg

very easy to do as well, it just sits in under where the top hose from the radiator enter the engine at the front

[shewiththe18RG]

DQIKST: The heater tap could cause the overheating? Cuz I've changed the hose from the tap twice recently and it still leaks. Not heaps, but enough to leave gunk everywhere. I thought if the tap wasnt working neither would my heater??

SillyCarS: I changed the thermostat today, wasn't the problem.

[SillyCarS]

ouch, you could be getting into boken water pump territory so hopefully it is just a stuffed radiator core

have you tried running it tieh now thermostat at all, when i first changed mine it made no diiference

flush the rad out, there is a tap on the bottom of it

[ra_28]

Has it got a clutch fan?? If there dead that can cause a promlem. Also mine sits on the frist line on the guage when at running temp. Also when you changed the coolant did you pull the bottom radiator hose off?? My corona was running hot and cooling down at lights changed the coolant no change pulled off the bottom hose and the flow was really poor.

Cheers
Alex

[SillyCarS]

also it may just be the sensor is screwed, its a lot rarer though it does happen due to build up on the thermocouple

[jeffro ra28]

In my experiences if the clutch fan is shagged it will just spin all the time, meaning it will take longer to warm up.

A temporary fix for it may be to buy a lower temp thermostat, or drill 6 or so 1/8th holes around the diameter of the thermostat to bleed some extra water.

[leso]

The gauges on the dash are only an indication of whats really happening... Are you losing any coolant ?? A pressure test would be the first thing i'd do

[shewiththe18RG]

Thanks for all the help, just did a pressure test-- no leaks. Except for the slight seeping from the heater tap under high pressure.
But it holds 15 pounds well.

I'm thinking it has to be a blockage in the radiator core. Will have to wait till tomorrow to flush it out as the sun's running out =(

[hemi twofifteen turbo]

Clutch fan -- when i've had them die on me they stop driving the fan, causes overheat.
Radiator blockage -- could be be not likely if coolant used all the time
Water pump impellor rusted away spinning a stump?
also is it actually overheating? could be sensor/gauge problem.. check with a thermometer
Drilling the thermostat won't help if it's either of the above though.

[The Witzl]

Tiff,

Personally, i'd be looking at the radiator first. If you havent had the core cleaned in the last few years, then go and visit the radiator shop behind the (now closed) pool hall on Carrington Rd (he's next door to KP's engine reconditioning)..... it should cost less than $100 to get the core flushed and cleaned out.

When was the last time you replaced the waterpump? It could very well be shagged and not moving any water as suggested above.

[shewiththe18RG]

Thanks Karl,
I went and spoke to the radiator guy today and I'm dropping the car to him tomorrow morning.

Changed the waterpump a couple of years back, very possible it has carked it, but I'm hoping a clean radiator will make the difference. Fingers crossed.


Saturday night I was driving to a mates house and after about 10kms I was coming down a hill to an intersection with a car tailing behind me when all of a sudden *BANG* - the BIGGEST backfire my car has ever made... I left the car behind me in a thick, black cloud of smoke. I have no idea what that's all about. Scary.

[Hash_ra23]

Saturday night I was driving to a mates house and after about 10kms I was coming down a hill to an intersection with a car tailing behind me when all of a sudden *BANG* - the BIGGEST backfire my car has ever made... I left the car behind me in a thick, black cloud of smoke. I have no idea what that's all about. Scary.

18rg automatic tailgating control?

[jeffro ra28]

Saturday night I was driving to a mates house and after about 10kms I was coming down a hill to an intersection with a car tailing behind me when all of a sudden *BANG* - the BIGGEST backfire my car has ever made... I left the car behind me in a thick, black cloud of smoke. I have no idea what that's all about. Scary.

There is a posibilty the balance weights in your dizzy are flogged out Tiff. May pay to have them checked.