HI MY NAME IS DAVID I LIVE IN EL PASO TEXAS AND ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO BOUGHT A 1985 RX7 GSL WITH 85,000 MILES ON IT. SUMMER CAM ALONG AND SO DID 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES AND MY CAR STARTED OVERHEATING. HAD RADIATOR CLEANED, CHANGED WATER PUMP, CHANGED THERMOSTAT ( ORIGINAL TO 180 DEGREES) AND STILL OVERHEATING. ANY ADVICE. THOUGHT OF FINDING A BIGGER CAPACITY RADIATOR ANY LEADS.

THANKS IN ADVANCE

DAVID

 

Hey Dave,

Just a little helpful hint: this forum is a great place and we welcome you, just please don't type all in caps. It hurts the eyes, and looks like you're standing on the edge of a cliff with a megaphone yelling

The only thing I can think of that could even minutely change anything is running a coolant flush through your system. Maybe you have a blockage somewhere.

Also, check if your Oil Metering Pump is working. The Heynes manual has a good proceedure for this. I'm not sure if you know much about it but the Rx7 injects oil in with the gas into the chambers to keep them lubricated. If the engine isn't lubed properly, it will create much more heat, and actually die out pretty quickly.

If you're not sure about the OMP, go out now to the gas station, put a quart of 2stroke oil into your tank and fill the rest of the tank with 87octane gas. This is called "premixing", and basically does what the OMP does, so that the OMP doesn't have to. It doesn't hurt to have both premix *and* OMP oil in there, so try it for a tank. Dunno if that is causing your problem, but it's something to check.

Other than that, let's hear what the experts have to say... Guys?

Jon

 

Thanks for your reply and sorry about the caps......I'll try your recomendations and check the OMP. I had a reply that my engine was quiting on me. I should also tell you that i eliminated the fan clutch and installed an electric fan. Also ordered a 160 degree thermostat from victoria British. Last but not least the overheating went up to almost 3/4 on the gauge and stayed there. No smoke coming out from the back till now...

Thanks again

David

 

Sounds like your water seals are going out. Is there any coolant loss/ coolant in with the oil?

 

also check your oil cooling system! the Oil itslef provides engine cooling, so if your Oil cooler isnt in good condition, this might be adding to it!

another possability is a bad earth electrically, i had what i thought was overheating probs, got a new radiator, new water pump (it was leaking slightly) new thermostat, and still overheating, shortly afterwards the Starter motor died! after checking all electrics i found a bad earth lead, it was corroded almost to nothing, i replaced that, and Whalla! Overheating problem solved!! the engine temp guage would get almost up to the red, i would stop, and check under the bonnet, but the temp in the engine compartment, and radiator wasnt any hotter than usual, if its like this, its a guage/electrical issue!

 

If you have a elec fan, I would check and see if it is pulling enough air and make sure it is always working. I had an elec fan off of a fiero and worked good when I would check it, but when I would drive it would cut off and on. I took it apart and needed a new one, one of the brushes was barely attached. Also do you have the metal rock gaurd on the bottom of the car, that helps direct air through the rad.

 

Are you positive that it's overheating? Are you going by the gauge or something else. I just wonder if your water temp sending unit is bad. Just a thought. Oh BTW, the stock radiator is plenty big enough to cool the engine. Good luck!

--Bob


EDIT- Is your elect fan pulling or pushing air? Is it set to a thermostat and does it come on soon enough?