Engine Overheating issue

Black_Hammer · Sep 11, 2021

Hey guys, I purchased a 1988 Mustang GT recently and have been having some overheating issues. The car came with an aftermarket dual fan SVE radiator, model 8005A. The previous owner had removed the fan shroud so, now there is no shroud. Could this be the cause of the overheating? If so, will an original GT shroud fit on this dual fan radiator?

Thanks, Hammer

KRUISR · Sep 11, 2021

From what I see in the second pic, the shroud is still there for the e-fans. As with all these overheating threads, please define overheating? Is this statement based on rad boiling over, temp gauge moving up into upper range, measurement of excessive temperatures on driver side of rad?

Another question, are the fans still working? Can you manually trigger them to see they operate?

Black_Hammer · Sep 11, 2021

Thanks and you are right I need to clarify. I see the reservoir is empty at times. If I top it off it ends up empty. But the main thing I see is the temp gauge on the cluster gets pinned at 270 stays there a few minutes and drops to dead center normal. But it will go up high again and back down. I almost thought the fans weren’t running. I checked the fuse on the raditor which looks good.

Since I didn’t put the radiator in I don’t know much about the fans. I don’t see a pot to turn to change the temp to trigger it manually.

91TwighlightGT · Sep 11, 2021

Sounds more like a blown head gasket to me. The coolant is either going on the ground or out the tail pipe.

it doesn’t preclude you having another cooling issue as well.

KRUISR · Sep 12, 2021

I would take a temperature reading of the driver side rad tank with an infrared gun. That will tell you if your gauge is reading right. If temp of rad tank is under 200-210, I would think your gauge sender is faulty, time for a new one.

The coolant tank going down could be you don't have the cooling system filled all the way. I would open rad cap, start car and let it warm up. Watch for coolant flowing through the cores into the end tank (this means thermostat is open) and then slowly add coolant to fill rad. When full, put cap back on (engine still running) and let run for a couple more minutes (you can check the surface temp on rad tank now). Then shut down engine. Let it cool down and top up the overflow tank.

If a blown head gasket, you would either see white smoke out tailpipe or chocolate milk in oil pan.

For the e-fans you should be able to manually short the fans into operating. Also with above filling/temp test, fans should start and operate at their set temps.

Black_Hammer · Sep 12, 2021

Ok I’ll try as u say. I did consider a head gasket but exhaust is dry and no leaks on ground. I’l check around the heads too. It may just be a bad thermostat or the gauge itself.

thanks guys!!

Mustang5L5 · Sep 13, 2021

Black_Hammer said:
Thanks and you are right I need to clarify. I see the reservoir is empty at times. If I top it off it ends up empty.

This is kinda a big clue. Coolant shouldn't be leaving the system. The level should remain constant for quite some time. You losing the coolant somewhere, either an external leak, or a blown HG.

You should pressure test the cooling system by renting a pressure test kit. This will tell you if you have a leak in the system somewhere.

Engine Overheating issue

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