Foofighter2585

[:@] Ok guys, I've got a problem and need your help. I've got an 88 and I've got a weird overheating issue.

My cars temp like to shoot way up to 270degrees. Sometimes it holds there for about a mile or so and then fall back to regular operating temp, and
other time is likes to stay up there and fluctuate between 230 and 250. It seems to cool better when the radiator is half full of coolant.

Please not all the things I've replace on the car and still have this issue:

New Napa High Flow Water Pump
New Napa 180 degree T-stat
New Fan clutch (Flex-a-Lite flx-5656)
New Fan Shroud and overflow tank
New OEM Radiator
New Heater Core (about 3years ago)
New OEM Radiator Cap
The only thing I think i haven't replace is hoses.


My gauge is reading accurately, or so it seems, because I am losing coolant.

My guess is maybe the Radiator is bad, because I check the Upper radiator hose when the temp was way up and it had so much pressure in it i was affraid it was going to burst.
I'm thinking coolant isn't traveling through the radiator vary well, but its a brand new OEM so.....
It seems that once it builds up enough pressure in the system it will force somthing open and then allow coolent to travel through
Also, When the temp starts to skyrocket the heat in the car goes away and when the temp comes down i get heat in the car. which seems typical for what its doing.

I've also recently flushed the block, and the block seems to be clear of any deposits etc...

I'M LOST AND WANT TO DRIVE THIS THING OFF A CLIFF.[:@]

NEED YOUR INPUT!

please feel free to ask more ?'s I really want to solve this issue, but am lost.

smkshw

could be air in the lines..mine did that when I changed my water pump....

MIKE86

+1^ definetly sounds like air..

shaners90lxhatch

Your system needs to be burped our you have a bad head gasket. Easy way to check the rad is to see what your temp drop is with an infared gun. anything more than 20deg drop indicates a blockage. You may want to invest in a block tester. They make dip strips and a liquid hydrocarbon detector that will check your coolant for combustion gases. They are not the most accurate thing on the planet but without putting shop air into each cylinder it is the best option you have. If the coolant is refilled frequently, it may throw off the results as well. Let her overflow and sample some of that coolant for testing. Bottom line - you loose heat. This means that there is an air bubble in the coolant - or it's not really getting that hot. There is no physical way to make actual engine temp climb like that. I think you have a gasket issue, honestly.

grabbem88

BURP IT BRO...believe it or not but air pockets create hot spots in the motor....having a half full rad. means it's able to push the air around,cause of less fluid.

Foofighter2585

Thanks for the help guys. Useful Info!

PRO50SC

Any white smoke out the t-pipes?

Foofighter2585

No, checked that. It seems like blown head gasket, but if it does have one the car sure runs great.

Going to bleed the cooling system tomorrow and see what happens.

The only other thing i can think of is faulty radiator.....

2 kwik

why buy a stock rad a at NAPA for over 150 when you can get a 3 core for 135.00.....also this is why i ALWAYS SAY GET A MR.GASKET STAT..

Foofighter2585

Radiator came directly from ford and was a gift for x-mas.... and a napa stat isn't going to be any different than a Mr. Gasket bud