running hot head gasket leak?

[91whiteponygt]

my car is getting hot in traffic with ac on. it still runs hotter that it should on the highway but not that bad. has a stock radiator with 180 thermostat. i think i might have a head gasket leak. is there an easy way to find out. no coolant in oil. car has h/c/i swap. stock style fan/clutch. car would run 160-180* on cool days before this tennessee weather got hot. what is the easiest and cheapest way to add a temp guage to be sure temp is accurate?

 

[xhatchetboyx]

wow! i wish my 91 had A/C......my a/c is 90 down the highway with the windows down. haha! i'll research this.


*edit*
Also you might wanna make sure you waterpump and radiator are in good working order...also check your radiator fluid if you have car sitting in the garage for a while it's always a good idea to change your liquids.

 

[91whiteponygt]

FRESH FLUIDS, AND DID A PRESSURE TEST AND GUAGE STAYED AT 16 LBS, PUT I AM GONNA PUT A NEW RAD CAP ON AND SEE IF THAT HELPS

 

[just4bob50]

you didnt say how hot your temp was actually getting. I know that when I had my stock radiator and water pump still on that in the summer my temps would get close to 210 with a 180 stat. Now with the alumiminum rad. and high flow pump the temp rarely goes above 190 when im beating on the car and thats with the same 180 stat.

 

[91whiteponygt]

car gets to 210-220 but it just seems too high and i like running the ac , which rad to u use

 

[just4bob50]

car gets to 210-220 but it just seems too high and i like running the ac , which rad to u use

I used Summits direct fit rad. and summit high flow pump. It was like 325 for every thing.

 

[88Stang331]

It sounds like a thermostat problem.