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Why is my motor getting so hot?

  • Thread starter Thread starter fox racer
  • Start date Start date Aug 28, 2005

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#1
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #1
ok, ever since i put tailpipes on my car, it seems to run hotter. it idles jusr below the halfway point of the gauge (stock) and when i drive it hovers over it almost near the little white dash about the midpoint. that is MUCH hotter than before when i had dumps.. wat gives? the car has aluminum heads btw. would a radiator flush help me out? maybe some water wetter?
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
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129
Aug 28, 2005
#2
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #2
What are you thinking the relationship between tail pipes and motor temps is? Unless you have a restriction in the pipes (think banana in the tailpipe), I dont see how one has anything to do with the other.

A real gauge might help with diagnostics. Was any other work done recently?

Good luck.
 

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#3
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #3
like 3 weeks ago i swapped rears... then a month before that i did a 5 speed swap.. the last time i touched the motor was the end of may beggining of june.

im not sure when this started tho... the car sat for most of the summer. wat type of gauge should i get? or are you talking about like an autometer or sumthin? (im tight on funds) thanks alot for replyin so quickly hissin.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Aug 28, 2005
#4
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #4
Is there a chance that it is just running hotter than you remember because it has not been driven in the summer much? Cooling system is all burped? Does this only happen while idling (it cools down once at speed)?

More info will help to pinpoint what it is.

Even a parts store 10 dollar temp gauge is much much better than stocker. You dont have to keep it permanently mounted - use it for a week so you can see what is going on or mount it under the hood after that.

Or: grab a turkey thermometer (99 cents at Wally mart). On a cold motor, remove the radiator cap and insert the thermometer. let the car warm up (be careful of hot coolant jumping out of the radiator neck, etc). As the car warms up, note the thermometer temps vs the gauge temps and compare the two. That is a cheap way to go (and way back when, what lead me to get a real gauge). My stocker can read off as much as 45*F compared to the aftermarket mech gauge.

Of course, dont use that thermometer for living consumption again (food for people, animals, etc). I keep a thermo in the garage for that purpose only.

Good luck bud.
 

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#5
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #5
well it heats up during driving then cools off (goes below the midpoint) when idling. when the hood is up it doesnt feel hotter. also when i turn the car off it seems to cool off in the same amount of time. i hope its just a bad gauge. but to be safe im flushing it and swapping the thermostat, hopefully its that.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Aug 28, 2005
#6
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #6
Cool. So the fan works fine, and the radiator is able to reject heat (it does at idle). But ambient air flow seems to be insufficient, or there is a dynamic at work when at speed (like perhaps a collapsing lower radiator hose). Having the air dam under the car is pretty important IMHO too.

Flushing the radiator and a new stat might not solve the issue, since it does run cool while idling.

I dont have any great ideas for you though other than the couple small things I typed here.

Good luck and bump.
 

shttygtstang

New Member
Jun 2, 2004
978
0
0
Aug 28, 2005
#7
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #7
hissin what kind of trippy bong is your wizzard smokin out of in your avatar?
 

midlife89

Member
Mar 30, 2005
91
0
6
youngstown,oh
Aug 28, 2005
#8
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #8
What kind of antifreeze mix are you running I know mine runs cooler on straight water.I'read water is more efficent.of course no corrosion protection.
 

Car RamRod

Banned
Mar 30, 2005
623
0
0
Queens, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#9
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #9
before anything, get a better gauge.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Aug 28, 2005
#10
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #10
shttygtstang said:
hissin what kind of trippy bong is your wizzard smokin out of in your avatar?
Click to expand...
You are going to have to ask Daggar.
 

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#11
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #11
Car RamRod said:
before anything, get a better gauge.
Click to expand...

i want to, but im in debt, hardcore now that i finally got all the supporting equipment for my cobra intake.
 

Car RamRod

Banned
Mar 30, 2005
623
0
0
Queens, NYC
Aug 28, 2005
#12
  • Aug 28, 2005
  • #12
fox racer said:
i want to, but im in debt, hardcore now that i finally got all the supporting equipment for my cobra intake.
Click to expand...
ouch. Ill see if I can dig something halfway decent up the next time I go to a junkyard or something.
 

fox racer

Member
Jun 22, 2004
577
0
16
Staten Island, NYC
Aug 29, 2005
#13
  • Aug 29, 2005
  • #13
Car RamRod said:
ouch. Ill see if I can dig something halfway decent up the next time I go to a junkyard or something.
Click to expand...

thatd be cool... imma just steal my moms cooking thermo for the time being and do wat hissin said... then keep it and tell her she lost it. for the time being lol.
 
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