New motor getting hot

[mobius122]

hey guys,

i need some help here...i just put in a fresh .030 over 302 in my 89 gt last weekend. brand new everything under the hood. i have let it run several times up to operating temp and have drove it about 3 miles. Yesterday i decided it was time for a test, since everything was looking good. i drove it about 6 miles, then let it sit while i had lunch. i get back in and head for home. i glance down and the temp is climbing. on the way home i had to climb a few hills and this is when i noticed the temp. plenty of antifreeze in it, i checked the belt to make sure it was spinning the water pump opposite of the crank (at least thats what i was told, is that correct). i know my timing is a little out which i think could cause a lean mixture, but i wouldnt think that would make it run hot. It got up to about 190. i have a 180 thermostat in it. A friend of mine has a 160 thermostat in his and his is getting warm too. We both bought them from AutoZone, so i'm wondering if i should go with a mr gasket or milodon thermostat. Any ideas?? I'm running stock radiator and fan. i'm saving up for an aluminum rad and electric fan, but i need something to hold me over. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[izzleon]

is it painted

is the motor painted? or the water pump? cause alot of time people paint the front of the water pump and that need to be just plain since its got a thermostatic fan. any way im having the same problem too... what type of heads u put and cam and rollers??

 

[vristang]

... It got up to about 190. i have a 180 thermostat in it. A friend of mine has a 160 thermostat in his and his is getting warm too. We both bought them from AutoZone, so i'm wondering if i should go with a mr gasket or milodon thermostat. Any ideas?? I'm running stock radiator and fan. i'm saving up for an aluminum rad and electric fan, but i need something to hold me over. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with 190F.
I prefer to run my car just over 200F.
Temps below 180F greatly accelerate bore wear.
For this reason, your buddy should probably ditch the 160F stat.

A Mr. G T-stat would be a good choice.

Are you using the stock gauge to judge the temps?

In theory, painting the block/pump will increase heat retention. But unless the car is already on the ragged edge of overheating, it won't have a practical impact on coolant temps.


Random thoughts,
jason

 

[mobius122]

thanks for the replies. I'm running stock heads that have been rebuilt, checked, valve job, etc. I am using stock guages to monitor the temps, also running an e303 cam. the block is painted ford grey, but the water pump is not. its a chrome weiland. i'm going to order a mr gasket tstat tomorrow and see if that helps. i just worry a lot about overheating this new motor. i bought the car back last june and its been sitting ever since because the motor was junk. now i have it running and want to enjoy it this summer, but the heating is worrying me. thanks guys for your replies.

 

[vristang]

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE TEMPS UNTIL YOU GET TO 220F
(which is a long ways from where you are now)


What you described is not 'over heating'
In fact it boarders on paranoia
Temps of 10F over the stat rating are exactly where things should be...

It is very normal to see an increase in temp as you put more load on the motor. If the temps come after the load is gone, then don't sweat it.
IF the temps stay up, then consider doing an e- fan upgrade, or just flushing out the coolant system.

For now, your just fine, enjoy the fresh motor

jason

 

[mobius122]

ok. i am planning on an e-fan and aluminum rad soon, but cash is a small factor. the wife is wondering where all the cash is going. she's getting suspicious so i have to lay low awhile and make due with what i have until i save up enough. i think i'm going to order a mr gasket tstat tomorrow morning, it has to be better than the auto zone brand. also, is the stock temp guage accurate enough?

another issue i have is the fuel gauge. i should probably start a new thread but since you guys are responding i figure i'll ask. i had this car (89 gt 25th yr ann) about 5 years ago. i stupidly sold it to a guy who i knew would not take care of it, but i was hard up for cash at the time. i had bought a set of white face guages for it and he put them in after he bought it. well, he said the gas guage stopped working. i'm not sure if he did something wrong or if it actually died. my buddies died too and he replaced the whole guage cluster, but i hate to do that. what is the best way to go to determine if the actual guage is dead or if its something mechanical that can be fixed easily?

 

[DMAN302]

Your stat is likely fine..they will run over the setting temp quite often. 190 sitting with a stock rad and old style clutch fan is NO issue as previously stated by vristang..you have no problem there.

 

[krallman]

190 is where you want to be.

 

[mobius122]

Thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it. I guess I need to edit my first post. I can't say for sure the motor got to 190. Since I'm using factory gauges and it does'nt have temps for each notch, I cant say for sure what it was. I just thought about this a few minutes ago, and I'm too lazy to walk out to the garage, but I could do some math and figure out what temps each notch is. Anyway, I went by the spelling of NORMAL that is spelled out vertically on the guage, and my car got between the "O" and the "N". It stayed around the "R" and "M" during the first trip, but on the way home I hit some hills, and it shot up to the "O" and "N". I think that is warmer than 190. I'm wondering if my radiator might be dirty or the thermostat isnt good quality. Also, what pound radiator cap should I be running?

Thanks again for all the responses, it is really appreciated by a stang n00b.

:SNSign:

 

[DMAN302]

Stock gauge is at best only there for appearance...NEVER base engine info on stock gauges they are miles from accurate at best.

 

[LordMustangGT]

I got a 160 and it creeps to 240 if I just let it sit and idle long enough, the black magic fan isan't enough to keep up with the 160deg ther. As long as I drive it though it sticks around 180 190. at night it stays dead at 160 though.

 

[k00ksta]

Radiator

Also Check to be sure you dont have any air pockets in your radiator. I have seen this being an issue with overheating before as well. but like everyone else said including mine I run at 160-190 degree's all the time

 

[daddystang]

I would flush the radiator, and then buy a mechanical guage to get a real number. Mount the new guage sender on the intake where the stock guage sender is now (drivers side at the front), and move the stock guage sender to the back of the intake on the drivers side. I did this on a tip from Hissin50, and the mechanical guage reads 175-180 all day, while the stock guage goes up about half way. I trust the mechanical guage more than the stock guage.

Just a thought, as I had cooling issues as well for quite some time.

I also run an e-fan.

Good luck to you...

 

[vristang]

Thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it. I guess I need to edit my first post. I can't say for sure the motor got to 190. Since I'm using factory gauges and it does'nt have temps for each notch, I cant say for sure what it was. I just thought about this a few minutes ago, and I'm too lazy to walk out to the garage, but I could do some math and figure out what temps each notch is. Anyway, I went by the spelling of NORMAL that is spelled out vertically on the guage, and my car got between the "O" and the "N". It stayed around the "R" and "M" during the first trip, but on the way home I hit some hills, and it shot up to the "O" and "N". I think that is warmer than 190. I'm wondering if my radiator might be dirty or the thermostat isnt good quality. Also, what pound radiator cap should I be running?

Thanks again for all the responses, it is really appreciated by a stang n00b.

:SNSign:

As DMAN mentioned the stock gauge is a little sketchy...
But that is pretty warm...

Do you have access to a cooling system pressure tester?
Have you done a rad. flush?

It could just be that an air pocket had shifted and momentarily blocked coolant flow
But taking the time to do the standard diagnostic stuff might make you feel better

jason

 

[mobius122]

vristang,

i dont have access to a cooling system pressure tester, but i'm going to check into that. i havent flushed the rad yet. i'm thinking i may just go ahead and get an aluminum rad and electric fan and replace the stock stuff. i ordered a new mr gasket thermostat yesterday, hopefully that comes in today. my temps maybe ok but i know what heat does to engines, and i have a decent amount of money in the new motor and dont want it to go to waste. thanks for your reply!