tankard

This is on a 94 5.0. It seems to be overheating constantly. Some days the needle will go way past the red other days it will stay in the "normal" hot range. Now I've replaced the gauge cluster - which was good for 2 days until the needle started acting up again. I also put in a 180 thermostat. Today I put in some Purple Ice and it overheated (accoring to the gauge) even more. Now when I got home I opened the hood and the fan was running which means it was running hot and when I looked in the expansion container there was some foam on top. The water pump seems to run ok. Now wtf is going on is my car overheating or not?? I bought some autometer gauges I'll put them in tomorrow but other than that what could also cause the overheating? I live in Calgary and its pretty hot and lots of hills and bumper to bumper traffic so I understand it might run hotter than usual but the overheating also happened last night when it was relatively cool outside. Could I maybe have too much coolant in my car?? Another thing: is it possible that the car runs hotter on the highway then in bumper to bumper traffic?

*Update*

OK so for the moment of truth. I installed the autometer water temp gauge. The highest my car went was 230F and thats on an evening where its like 20C outside. Now here's the messed up thing. I wired the gauges separately with a switch. When I turn on just the gauge after I shut off the engine it read 210 as I am parked at home. WHen I turn the ignition key to ON it reads 230??? Now is this proper operating temp for a Mustang in the summer on the highway 210-230F and sometimes even a bit more??? If not what can I replace? I put in a 180 thermostat and a new rad cap and some Purple Ice and its still the same way. COuld it be my k&n filter???? I haven't done anything else to the car

ozz

The sending unit for the temp gauge could be bad.

tankard

what about the foam in the expansion container?

mazdaprerunner

could it be your air dam under the radiator support
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tankard

what about the air dam?

samseed101

Are you seeing any white smoke in the exhaust? Check your oil after the temp gets up in the hot range. Does it seem kind of frothy or milky on the dipstick? I'm thinking a possible bad head gasket.

tankard

the oil looks clean i just had it changed a few days ago. when i got home just now i opened up the radiatior cap as the gauge was showing hot and all this coolant started flowing out of it with some bubbles no smoke in the exhaust either

mazdaprerunner

the air dam deflects air up into the radiator going down the road. my 88 heats up going down the road and cools down when in traffic because I have no airdam and have one on the way as I type this .
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