Gotta a little problem. Today, I drove my car and the needle on the temp gauge went about 1/3 or the way. It stayed right in that area but I've never had it go that hight before. Its about 80 or so today but even when I was down in FL the temp never go this high.

I wonder if it has to do with the 13lb radiator cap that I purchased for during the winter. Basically I just picked one off of the shelf that fit my rad at Autozone because the one they pulled up on the computer doesn't even fit my rad or the spare that I have.

Just in case, I'm going to check the thermo but I doubt its that since I put a new one in about a year ago.

I don't think its belt slippage because I have a dual pulley and the belt doesn't seem to be worn out. I've had this belt for about a year and a half.

Other than that the car runs tip top. No leakage no smoking no nothing. Actually I'm about the take off the P/S belt because the noise is getting annoying and it has a leak somewhere near the resevoir(only thing that leaks on the car).

I doubt its the water pump because from what I've experienced when the impellers wear out on the water pump the car tends to run hotter at idle but when revved the temp goes back down. also I remember from past cars that when the pump takes a dirt nap it starts weeping like a little baby

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

1/3rd of the dial is totally normal temp range.

 

when it gets to 1/2 then start to be concerened.

 

 

It got pretty close to it. I don't know why it would get like this though. Its never ran this hot before and before now it was being driven down in NC,FL where it was hotter.

 

The fan keeps it cool at low speeds (less then 30 mph). Above that the ram air cools the car. So that ought to tell you if the fan is in any way a problem.

 

if the temp raises at low speeds, check your fan clutch. If once the car is at operating temp, you can stop the fan with a rag, time to change the clutch, or go electrical fan.

 

Ok, I'm going to try that. I'm hoping that the fan is bad because I have spares. That means less money coming out of my pocket

 

I was able to stop the fan with a rag. I guess its time to break out my other fan.

 

Time for the guaranteed 5 HP gain of installing a Derale electric fan......

 

Ugh. Ok...I live in FL.

I would say my "normal" temperature is about 1/3 on the gauge.

However, sometimes it runs closer to 1/2.

The gauge goes up if I turn on my lights. Turn them off, the gauge goes back down.

I figured then it was my fan clutch, so I tried stopping the fan with my finger. When the car was just driven and hot, I couldn't stop the fan at idle with my finger. I was able to when the car had cooled though (waited too long)

The up/down thing annoys me, because if it's running near 1/2, if I put my lights on, the gauge goes up. It'll do it within maybe a mile of driving...just doesn't seem the temperature would go up and down that fast, and why from the lights?