Cooling Issues

Alright back at it this weekend. Got the new thermostat in there and the air deflector on bottom. Haven't taken for a test drive yet but idled in the driveway for a while.

Jacked the front end up and took the cap off after installing 180 thermostat and draining/filling radiator. up to operating temp in 3-5 minutes. Thermostat definitely opened at 180 and electric fan kicked on shortly after. idled with cap off for 10 minutes staying right around 175-180...

Put cap on and let idle for 15 more minutes. During that time the temp very slowly crept up to 195. Theoretically, should our cars be able to sit in the driveway idling for extended periods of time and stay at the same temp? Or is it just natural for the temp to slowly rise? And would this mean the black magic fan is not powerful enough for this setup?

Will be taking test drive with Air Deflector shortly to get more temp data.

More Data: Still getting hot.

This morning idling up to 195 it was about 60 degrees out.

Took it for a 12 mile drive through stop lights and slowly got up to 210 by the end of the drive (70 degrees out)

Then was doing a vacuum system flush and had the car in the driveway engine revved between 1200-2600 for about 15 minutes. Temp got up to 230 before cutting it off. That was more of an unrealistic test because the engine will rarely be under load without air being forced into the front of the car. (75 degrees out)

Seems like 210 is an acceptable temperature right? It was going uphill on the freeway for a few miles and got up to about 210, then a couple miles downhill in neutral and it cooled off in under 2 minutes back down to 180. Would this mean the radiator and air deflector are doing their jobs right?

It seems somewhat promising as of now, maybe just a fan that covers a bigger surface area of the radiator with a bigger shroud and it should help out. Does this sound normal? Would you be comfortable with 210?

Mustang5L5 said:

Radiator...is it new? How do the fins look internally? Clear or calcium covered
Water pump condition?
180* stat
Deflectors reinstalled
Rad cap condition?
Ignore the fan for now....at highway speed fan is not needed so if you overheat here, there is an issue.
What is the coolant water ratio?

Is it possible the hg could be blown?

Click to expand...

Radiator was installed in late 05' and motor went down in early 08'. For those 2-3 years it had max 20k miles on it. It was sitting uncirculated from early 08' through a couple months ago when the motor first fired up again. When I did the H/C/I install years ago that radiator was what solved the overheating problems. As far as I can tell the fins look fine internally, but it is pretty tough to tell. I guess there is a place nearby that will run a flow test on the radiator for free.

Water Pump is brand new and belt is nice and tight, not slipping.

180* thermostat definitely opening and deflectors look good.

Radiator cap is brand new, just bought a different style cap to eliminate variables.

Measured the fan and it officially covers 44% of the surface area of the radiator. it is for sure blowing in the right direction.

Coolant/Water ratio = mostly water. Probably 25% coolant, 75% water. Somewhere between there and 50/50 max.

Head gasket is brand new, 67 miles on it and never revved above 4000RPMs.

At this point would you think it has to be either fan or radiator? Definitely need to get some more miles on her for testing. I have been thinking once it gets to 230... pull over and let it cool off. Does that sound about right?