93 Overheating

[STANGNUM]

Hey guys how's it going? Just registered to the site was wondering if you guys can help me out. I have a 93 5.0 GT 5 speed. It has new thermostat, Ford Racing waterpump and radiator. I also got a set of MARCH underdrive pullies and an electric fan with on/off switch. Only other thing I have done is BAssani X pipe and cats feeding some flowmasters.

Well the car ran real strong for a few months with all these add ons. Then one day coming home on the highway it started getting hot and the motor started surging. I pulled over to see if there was anything I can do. Well I checked what I could visually ans\d saw nothing out of the ordinary. IT has coolant nothing was leaking/steaming. Well I try to start but nothing happens. I end up getting it towed home and for kicks try to start. It cranks over when I get home. Next day I start it up and run for a few mins, then go for a ride. About 10 mins into the ride it gets hot again temps rising.

So my question is could it be the electric fan isn't cooling enough? IF so why was it running fine before. NExt question is could my catalytic converters have melted/messed up? Well if anyone can help I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

 

[Michael Yount]

Have you confirmed that the electric fan is working?

When you speed up so that there's enough air going across the rad to cool the car, does the temp drop?

You haven't provided enough info for us to rule some things out. If it heats up in traffic, and cools down on the road -- there's almost certainly something wrong with the fan. If it heats up quickly no matter what you do, my guess is that the t'stat has stopped opening.

What kind of fan is on the car? When you drive it, do you flip the fan on and leave it on all the time? Many of the $79 Speed Shop specials don't have enough capacity to keep a 5.0L cool. Of course that depends on accessories, where you live (climate), how you drive (stop and go vs. cruising), etc.

In any event -- diagnosing a problem like this is easier if you have a real temp gauge -- the stockers aren't the most accurate or reliable. If you crank it up, and it gradually heats up and goes right past the t'stat temp, then the t'stat's probably stuck closed. You can usually tell this because the engine will heat up, but the upper radiator hose stays relatively cool -- because virtually no heated coolant can flow through it when the t'stat is stuck.

 

[STANGNUM]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I confirmed the fan is working like I said I have an on/off switch. I turn it on with the car off it runs, with the car on it runs see some voltage drop on the gauge. I keep the fan running pretty much all the time during days. At nights it varies depending on the temp gauge. Might have to get a better temp gauge like you suggested though.

Yes I noticed it cools off when air coming in, but starts rising at stops/traffic. It also runs fine sometimes in traffic with the occasional rise. I'm having doubts about the fan though it's a single. Would going to dual electric help? Also I've heard from some Lincoln Mark 8 guys that the fan from their cars is pretty good to swap in, but I'm not sure how much amps it draws.

This happened after a few runs on the highway no traffic. I can't say I was gong easy on the peddle but I wasn't beating the snot out of the car either.

I will check the tstat suggestion later when I get some.

 

[Michael Yount]

Sounds to me like you might not have enough fan. I run a SPAL fully shrouded dual 11" unit and it's controlled with a Delta Current Control variable speed controller.

I'd strongly suggest you look at another way to control the fan. One of the real benefits of an electric is that it DOESN'T need to run all the time -- but only if you have it set up to sense temps and come on/off automatically.

Go to www.dccontrol.com --- absolutely the best fan controller out there. The Mark VIII fans, Taurus 3.8L fans and SN95 fans are some of the most popular conversions -- all have enough capacity to cool the car. And all will likely overwhelm your stock 65A alternator. I upgraded to a 130A on mine.

Here's some info/pics on the variable speed controller on mine: http://www.etnracing.com/pages/Tech/FanControl.htm