90gt Idles At 230*

[90GT_dom]

I picked up the car (1990GT 5 speed with 71k miles) about a month ago. I had to replace the radiator, fan blade, fan clutch, water pump, and timing cover because the fan blade shattered and punctured the radiator and damaged the timing cover and water pump, causing major coolant leaks. On the 4th of July I got everything pieced together and fired it up for the first time. No leaks, "perfect!" i thought. I drove around for about 20 minutes only to have the battery die about a mile from my parking lot. So a friend and I (and a few more nice guys who were bbq'ing) helped push the car back to its spot. I replaced the alternator, and boom. Car runs perfect again. After driving around a bit, I noticed that the water temperature was reading 230 (aftermarket gauge) and i thought that was too high. After a bit of research I burped the system, but when started cold, after about 5 minutes of idleing, it rises back up to 230 and fluctuates between 225 and 230. I let it cool down again, popped the rad cap off, and started it. The t stat doesn't open until the car reaches 225-230 at idle, and the temp stays there at least while at idle. The car is not registered and I live on an army base so driving around off post scares me, so i cant tell you how hot or cold it runs at city speeds or highway speeds. I think my next step will be draining the system and flushing it and refilling it with the engine running to avoid any chance of air pockets in the system. Anyone have any thoughts before I do that?

oh and it has a full header back exhaust and no cats, x pipe and mufflers and a mild cam.

 

[jrichker]

Get a candy thermometer from the supermarket and use it to check the temperature . It is inexpensive and easy to find. No, I am not kidding you. Candy thermometers are usually inexpensive and the metal dial types are pretty rugged. Wal-Mart shows several of then in their online catalog for less than $15

You can run the car with the radiator cap off until it warms up stick the thermometer in the open cap. Or you can put the cap on and stick the thermometer in between the fins of the radiator core. Watch to see what sort of results you get.

 

[90GT_dom]

Get a candy thermometer from the supermarket and use it to check the temperature . It is inexpensive and easy to find. No, I am not kidding you. Candy thermometers are usually inexpensive and the metal dial types are pretty rugged. Wal-Mart shows several of then in their online catalog for less than $15

You can run the car with the radiator cap off until it warms up stick the thermometer in the open cap. Or you can put the cap on and stick the thermometer in between the fins of the radiator core. Watch to see what sort of results you get.

appreciate the idea, but i got really impatient so i just went and got a mr. gasket 180* tstat and put it in. idled for about 15 minutes and reached 200, and after a bit of driving it was at 210*. not perfect, but hell i'll take it

 

[jrichker]

At this point you don't know if you have an actual hot running engine or a temp gauge that isn't working correctly. That could be a problem situation.

 

[90GT_dom]

At this point you don't know if you have an actual hot running engine or a temp gauge that isn't working correctly. That could be a problem situation.

when i get time i'll go to walmart and try the candy thermometer just to double check. and i should have the car registered within the next week or 2, so i can give it a full test drive and see how it drives at different speeds

 

[84Ttop]

Where is the timing set at? Timing that is too far advanced can and will cause an engine to run hot

 

[jrichker]

Where is the timing set at? Timing that is too far advanced can and will cause an engine to run hot

That's right.
In addition, too much retard on the timing will also cause overheating. You will need to use a timing light to get it set right.