My car overheats randomly.....why?

fordman54935

Member

Jan 10, 2003

301

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16

Wisconsin

Aug 17, 2005

#1

• Aug 17, 2005

• #1

I've been having trouble for months with overheating. Water pump, t-stat, cap, hoses and fan clutch are new. Last night I drove the car 60 miles and got on it ONE time through the gears and it overheated, and puked a bunch of coolant out. Compression is 155-170 psi, and I know the head gaskets were put on right when I put my thumper heads on. What could be causing this? I'm really fed up with this car! The car has been doing this for a while. What gives?

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

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Aug 17, 2005

#2

• Aug 17, 2005

• #2

Air pockets in coolant?

 

Curse

Member

Apr 8, 2004

791

2

16

El Paso, TX

Aug 17, 2005

#3

• Aug 17, 2005

• #3

What kind of T-stat did you use? If it was one of the cheap one at AutoZone, that could be your problem. I was having the same problem a few months back, swapped out to a Mr. Gasket T-stat and haven’t had a problem since. Good Luck

 

QDRHRSE

New Member

Dec 31, 2002

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Palmdale, CA

Aug 17, 2005

#4

• Aug 17, 2005

• #4

They're aren't to many things that could cause your problem. Is your car running really lean? How much timing are you running? Could you have a vacuum leak? Does the car idle normally? If the timing is really advanced pull it back 5 degrees when your not in "race" mode. Also, is the block standard bore?

 

TenorPlayinGuy

Founding Member

Aug 3, 2001

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Canyon Country, Ca

Aug 17, 2005

#5

• Aug 17, 2005

• #5

maybe a t-stat was installed backwards. I know ive done it myself PLENTY times

 

9

90bluecoupe

New Member

Aug 1, 2005

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Abingdon md

Aug 17, 2005

#6

• Aug 17, 2005

• #6

I had the same thing happen, sorry to say it was the head gasket.

 

fordman54935

Member

Jan 10, 2003

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Wisconsin

Aug 17, 2005

#7

• Aug 17, 2005

• #7

T-stat is a new Stant 180 deg. (installed correctly with the spring in the manifold)- I drilled a small bleeder hole (1/8") in it to help burp it. I burped it several times for a total of about an hour's time. Its not lean, idles great, runs hard, doesnt smoke, no oil in coolant. However, I just got a call from my dad and he said there was no spring in the lower radiator hose. What the heck is that about? Its a brand new MOTORCRAFT hose!

 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because

Founding Member

Jan 15, 2002

2,773

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Dallas, GA

Aug 17, 2005

#8

• Aug 17, 2005

• #8

Get a block tester kit and check for HC's in the radiator, if the test is positive, you have issues with cracked heads or a bad headgasket. Also check to be sure you are getting plenty of flow through the system.

 

S

Sicarius428

Active Member

Jan 6, 2004

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49

Aug 17, 2005

#9

• Aug 17, 2005

• #9

Mine was a blown head gasket too. I didn't get any oil in the coolant and there wasn't any white smoke so it took a while for me to figure out but that was the problem.
Kevin

 

fordman54935

Member

Jan 10, 2003

301

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16

Wisconsin

Aug 25, 2005

#10

• Aug 25, 2005

• #10

Well guys it ended up being the driver's side head gasket, between cyl's 6 and 7. Should have her back on the road shortly

 

jaymac

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Feb 18, 2004

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Northern Mass

Aug 25, 2005

#11

• Aug 25, 2005

• #11

how'd you figure it out? Pull 'em and then see it? Or compression test?

 

9

9mm

New Member

Sep 8, 2004

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Aug 25, 2005

#12

• Aug 25, 2005

• #12

Well some scholars beleive that the Universe is based on Chaos Theory. Randomness as a theoretical principle is quite reasonable, perhaps you car is just ascribing to the "random" theory.

 

fordman54935

Member

Jan 10, 2003

301

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Wisconsin

Aug 25, 2005

#13

• Aug 25, 2005

• #13

jaymac said:

how'd you figure it out? Pull 'em and then see it? Or compression test?

Click to expand...

Well the compression test didnt indicate things were too bad - 155-170 psi cold, but the block tester kit from Napa told a different story. It goes to show you dont need to have white smoke from the tailpipes to have a bad head gasket - the compression was leaking into the coolant passages, not the other way around.

 

STINGER99

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Jul 18, 2004

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backroads of the world

Aug 25, 2005

#14

• Aug 25, 2005

• #14

or look for bubbles in the rad. another indication for a bad head gasket.

 

afast93stang

Founding Member

Jan 6, 2002

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North Texas

Aug 25, 2005

#15

• Aug 25, 2005

• #15

How much $$$ are the block tester kits?

 

jaymac

New Member

Feb 18, 2004

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Northern Mass

Nov 11, 2005

#16

• Nov 11, 2005

• #16

bump.
1. For the price of block testers.

2. For a description of "bubbes in the rad.". Is this a constant bubbling we're talking about, or just when you pour in new coolant, or when the stat opens and the level drops, or even when you have it topped off w/o the cap and just watching it sit there, would it have constant bubbling? Big bubbles? Little bubbles??
thanks