Install a proper engine driven fan and shroud.

 

I pulled the radiator today, had a bunch of crap along the top that looked like gasket material? I tried to flush from the bottom hose connection but it really didn't do much. It is a stock 2 row unit, and I wonder if or how much crap may be in the actual tubes? Maybe between this and the fan not being very big is causng my problem. Is it cheaper or wiser to get a new radiator or have this one cleaned?

 

I pulled the radiator out and flushed it with a hose from the bottom hose connection. I can see stuff that looks like old gasket material stuck in the top row of tubes that I can at least see. I am thinking that maybe there may be more that I can't see, and maybe some of the tubes could be plugged. Is it cheaper/wiser to just replace it or have it cleaned at a radiator shop?

 

If the a blow head gasket is a possible issue, you can usually see oil spots in your radiator fluid. That is one way to diagnose a blown head gasket.

 

I just had this issue did the car sit for a while? I would get the radiator checked out. I did everything to my car from water pump to looking at the gaskets when all it was was the radiator. Down here it is $40 to get it checked and $70 if it needs cleaned my tubes where stuffed with crap! Also if your radiator is bad autozone has a lifetime warranty radiotor for 130 that is a 3 row that with a good fan and shroud is more then enough my car runs about 200-210 depending highway traffic and all that.
Gasket might be good just u or who ever put it together put to much sealent on them and it has broken loose my car was doing the same thing your car was doing.

 

Not on the site much anymore, they block it at work.

Yes, I've had the exact same problem, same engine. After messing around with radiator caps, and water pumps it came down to two solutions.

1st, get that radiator and engine cleaned out.

2nd, get a fan shroud.

Now I can idle all day. It also quickly cools the engine back down after you run into the store.

 

I saw someone is selling an electric fan with a built in shroud for my 20 inch radiator. I e-mailed them to ask what the clearance is between the radiator and the water pump flange. If it will fit, I am going to order it. When I had it running, the temp on the top radiator hose was almost the same as the bottom hose? I really think the radiator is plugged pretty good, or that temp should be much less going out then it is coming in.

 

I ordered a new 3 row radiator and fan/shroud combo. I installed the new radiator and the fan/shroud unit would not fit between the radiator and water pump flange because I only had about 3 3/4 inches. So I installed my original 14 inch electric fan and started her up............She runs at 185 on the highway and 190 on the city streets. Looks like it was the old radiator being plugged full of crap. Thanks for all of the advice. And if anyone hears of a company that comes up with an electric fan/shroud that will fit, let me know.