I'm having some overheating issues. It gets to about 100 degrees out here sometimes and I have a stock radiator and water pump, 50/50 coolant (265 boiling point), and a 1500 CFM electric fan. When I take it out, it runs fine for a while in just about any traffic (stop and go, highway, etc.). Then I have to shut it off, go somewhere, and then come back. While I'm away, the stock gauge shoots up to the "H" and the coolant starts to boil. After that, the car runs hot until I get it home. As soon as I start it, it runs pretty bad and almost stalls, but once I get it on the road, it runs cooler (about 4/5 up the gauge) and I put a big fan on it once I get it home.
I checked the flow at idle in my garage and the pump seems to flow well. This problem occurs with or without a thermostat. I put a 16 lb. cap on and a catch can which fills about 1/4 of the way up (12 oz or so). Also, the radiator outlet seems crimped at the bottom and, although there is a spring in the lower hose, it only travels half the length of the hose, from the pump to the bend.
My questions:
1) Is there supposed to be a crimp in the radiator outlet? I would say it gets crimped to about 5/8".
2) Is the spring supposed to be the entire length of the tube, at the top, or at the bottom of the hose? I can squish the bottom hose and hear the water swishing around in the rad.
Any help is greatly appreciated. I hope I don't have to get a new radiator!
I checked the flow at idle in my garage and the pump seems to flow well. This problem occurs with or without a thermostat. I put a 16 lb. cap on and a catch can which fills about 1/4 of the way up (12 oz or so). Also, the radiator outlet seems crimped at the bottom and, although there is a spring in the lower hose, it only travels half the length of the hose, from the pump to the bend.
My questions:
1) Is there supposed to be a crimp in the radiator outlet? I would say it gets crimped to about 5/8".
2) Is the spring supposed to be the entire length of the tube, at the top, or at the bottom of the hose? I can squish the bottom hose and hear the water swishing around in the rad.
Any help is greatly appreciated. I hope I don't have to get a new radiator!