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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Overheating problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter preferredracing
  • Start date Start date Apr 10, 2006

preferredracing

New Member
Apr 10, 2006
3
0
0
Apr 10, 2006
#1
  • Apr 10, 2006
  • #1
Hey everyone, new to the forum, wanted to say hey and ask for some help with my newest problem.

Just picked up my new '92 stang GT. It's got a March 5.0 Ram air kit, Pro 5.0 shifter, BBK lowering springs, BBK headers, Ford racing dizzy and wires, flowmaster (40) series i believe exhaust. anyways, when I bought it, I knew it had an overheating problem. I put a new radiator in this weekend, and when I took her out on the road, she still overheated. The upper rad hose had a bunch of pressure behind her, and the coolant in the overflow tank was rising quickly. Not extreme bubbling in the tank, but there were a few while it was filling. Water pump is recently new. I am going to swap the T-stat out this weekend with a 180deg. F stat, and hopefully that fixes the prob. If not tho, sounds like I blew a headgasket right?

Anyone have any hints or tips on doing the head/intake gaskets on the 5.0 beast. I am new to the ford world, and have stuck with GM until now. Any help you can give is very welcome, and I am excited to be a part of this forum.

thanks again,
alex m
 
M

Marph

New Member
Dec 8, 2005
10
0
1
Apr 12, 2006
#2
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #2
IT could be a million things, coolant leak, water pump, coolant/water ratio is off specs, etc. take it somewhere
 

Rynb15

Member
Nov 21, 2005
132
2
18
Apr 12, 2006
#3
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #3
does it loose fluid? If it always stays full then it would not be a head gasket. Is there a lot of steam comming out of the exhaust? That would deff be headgasket.
 

TrickStang37

New Member
Oct 17, 2004
292
0
0
Apr 12, 2006
#4
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #4
if your ratio of coolant/water is off, its better to lean towards more water. before you start the car, open the radiator cap and have someone else start the car. if you see bubbles in the coolant, you probably have a blown head gasket. does the car pass smog as is right now? if it does, then its most likely not a head gasket. does it have underdrive pullies? whats the condition of the fan? could be thermostat not opening enough, its possible for them to just stay shut (had that happen to a friends car before).
 
K

Keith4452

New Member
Mar 6, 2006
14
0
0
Apr 15, 2006
#5
  • Apr 15, 2006
  • #5
same prob

I have a 90 GT and she's running hot as well with the same symptoms. Mine does have a good amount of steam blowing out the exhaust and when I did an oil change the other day the first quart or so was like chocolate milk. The thing runs so hot that it blows rad fluid out the top radiator hose at the connection. I just bought it and knew as well that the thing needed work associated with running hot. I see the water pump is sealed with something so I bet there is a lot of pressure running through the system. To be safe I'm not running her until I replace the head gaskets, radiator, and water pump. I with you on this one....any advice on changing things is greatly appreciated!:SNSign:
 
P

peonslayer

New Member
Dec 13, 2004
11
0
0
Apr 17, 2006
#6
  • Apr 17, 2006
  • #6
You have to purge/pressurize the system or something like that. I put a new radiator on my car and had the same problem. When you do the job air pockets form that will cause the coolant not to cycle. I took it to a shop and they did it for me. Also a thermostat when not in water for a bit can stick.
 
D

Deleted member 87397

Apr 17, 2006
#7
  • Apr 17, 2006
  • #7
Warm it up to operating temp and then touch the upper rad hose. If it's hot then your t-stat is most likely working. If it's cool enough for you to hang on to your stat is probably bad.
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
Apr 17, 2006
#8
  • Apr 17, 2006
  • #8
First, when does it over heat?

At idle?
At speed on the Highway?
Cruising in town?

Or all of the above? This gives an idication of what area of the car to look at. Start with some details of the car, mileage / condition of the coolant / do you notice any puddles under the car and then we can go from there.

The easiest way to bleed off air when swapping parts is as follows: (The coolant and motor needs to be cold)

1) Button everything back up and refill radiator
2) Leave the radiator cap off
3) Start the car, turn on heat
4) As the level of fluid drops, pour in more coolant
5) Leave cap off while the motor runs for about 20 minutes
6) As the thermostat opens the level will drop again, keep adding coolant

Leaving the cap off of the system gives the air a place to escape while you top off. Some people like to jack up the front of the car so the radiator cap is the highest point in the system.
 
S

seijirou

Founding Member
Aug 15, 2002
2,417
4
48
DFW
Apr 17, 2006
#9
  • Apr 17, 2006
  • #9
srothfuss said:
First, when does it over heat?

At idle?
At speed on the Highway?
Cruising in town?

Or all of the above? This gives an idication of what area of the car to look at. Start with some details of the car, mileage / condition of the coolant / do you notice any puddles under the car and then we can go from there.

The easiest way to bleed off air when swapping parts is as follows: (The coolant and motor needs to be cold)

1) Button everything back up and refill radiator
2) Leave the radiator cap off
3) Start the car, turn on heat
4) As the level of fluid drops, pour in more coolant
5) Leave cap off while the motor runs for about 20 minutes
6) As the thermostat opens the level will drop again, keep adding coolant

Leaving the cap off of the system gives the air a place to escape while you top off. Some people like to jack up the front of the car so the radiator cap is the highest point in the system.
Click to expand...

 
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