Hey guys, I think my 85 FB might be running a little hotter then she should be. On the stock water temp gauge, where are most of you guys running/should be running. On a cool night out, say 60, my car's temp gauge reads a little in front of the two marks towards the left. But on a day like say 80, while sitting and idling, the needle is almost completley verticle. Is this normal??

PS- I don't have the stock fan, it's about half the size and electric (guessing this is my problem)
Also I have a larger 3 row radiator Pic:




Thanks guys!

 

Wow. I just pm'd you about your wheels! You might want to think about a bigger fan. Keepin' it cool makes your wankel happy. Do you have it set on a temp controlled relay? Or do you cycle it manually? And I notice you have pics of two different oil filters. I hope you're not using that big goofy one. A large oil filter doesn't stand up to the enormous oil pressure generated by the rotary and in some cases will expand while under pressure and cause a leak . The stock Mazda filters (although more expensive) work the best. I like your engine torsion bar does it make a noticable difference?

 

Thanks man! Just sent you a pm. I just bought the car about a month ago the way it is. I am guessing the engine tq brace does make a difference considering at idle the engine does move somewhat from side to side. So I honeslty don't know if it really makes that big of a diff since I got the car like this. BTW manual switch for the fan

So where are your guy's needles at on the temp gauges?!?!

 

It shouldn't really go past the half way. But having it fluxuate like that is't so good either. Because the block is aluminum and cast iron its bad to have them keep expanding and contracting, since these materials do that at different rates you run a greater risk of blowing a seal. I would try to get a temp controlled relay for the fan or an aftermarket temp gauge to keep more accurate tabs on it.

 

ya the temp gauge is what I plan to do

 

Sounds like your electric fan is not pushing enough cfms. Whe ever the temp gauge needle gets past 1/2, I start worrying, they tend to go up from there quite fast, then it's rebuild time.

 

The fan should ben installed as close to the core as possible. Having a gap in between is no bueno.

 

never got past half

 

Needs more fan area. The way that one is setup, it doesn't pull air across the entire width of the rad, plus it sits off to the side.
I'm guessing you don't have much of an issue when running down the highway, regardless of outside temp.

 

85 SE- streetported 13B- electric fan in the center of radiator hooked up to a relay that turns fan on as soon as ignition is on- pull configuration (air pulls into engine compartment) guage never passes the 1/4 mark- S. Fl temp usually 80+
Hope this answers all your questions.
L8R

 

Cool guys, thanks! Ya I just picked this car up so I am in the process of fixing all the idiotic things that the gomer that owned her did.
Rogue Wulff-0> Ya no problem when the car is moving w/ the temp, but if I get stuck in traffic for a while, I start worrying. I think I am either A. going to put the stock fan back on or B. My brother has 2 8in fans I could hook up. Either way, this bitch has got to stay cool.

 

sorry, repost, God this server is slow on this site!

 

Moving the current fan to the pass side of the rad, may actually increase the time needed before it starts getting warmer at lights. Since the water pump is pulling from that side of the rad, it has a tendancy to pull the hotter water back into the motor. Water, like anything else, will take the path of least resistance.
Not sure how well 2 X 8" fans would work, but prolly be an improvement over the current setup.
Stock fan should be plenty to eliminate it all together (assuming you put the shroud back on as well), but it will cause drag on the engine....

 

Thanks for the input, really app. it. What electric fans do you guys suggest?? B/c I would rather go that path since the stock fan is already off

 

Check out Summit or Jegs. get one that flow at least 2000, preferably 2400 cfm. Buy the auto thermostat too, If you don't have one.

 

My personal choice, is the Black Magic by Flex-A-Lite. Has a built-in thermostat, along with the ability to wire to a manual switch and the A/C circuit, all at the same time. A little pricey, but I have seen one keep a 300+ HP V8 cool without any issues, on the track.
I haven't checked how well this would fit in a 1st gen, but I plan to do so soon.

 

Thanks for the input guys!! anyone have a link to one?? Im lazy lol

 

Junkyard fiero is for cheap *** like me. works like a charm. then use the savings on a trio set of equus gauges and a 12-pack of heines. Priceless...

Im gong back now to celebrate cinco de mayo with my mexican cousins.

 

A specific ford taurus fan hooks up too. There's a write up in here somewhere. A mod I plan to do pretty soon I'm running a little warm myself.

 

My FB moves about 1/2 the way to being Vertical, and doesn't budge from there. I'm on the stock fan though. Going to convert to E-Fan before too long.

 

I'm currently running only one of my two-fan setup, and I never get past 1/4 on the gauge. You should check into picking up a used MR2 fan, they really kick out the air. Also, you can get an adjustable fan controller from Autozone for 18 bucks that works great.

Mounting the MR2 fans couldn't be easier. It's like a five minute job tops. Here's a pic of what's involved:

1. This is a little lip on the fan shroud that hangs the assembly on the lip on the radiator.

2. Here is where you drill a hole in the fan shroud on each side, then use one of the stock shroud's mounting bolts in the stock location on the radiator.

 

cool, thanks guys!! Ya that MR2 fan looks pretty serious, that is def what I need when sitting in traffic! How much do you think one would go for?? And what year MR2 did you get the fan off of, just wondering. Thanks!

 

I think they are the 1st gen MR2s (mid 80 to ?).

I got mine for 10 bucks at the local pick-n-pull.

 

Good call on the MR2 fan Kentesu!

Just an FYI, on my car with the stock fan/rad the temp gauge never ever goes past 1/4 unless I'm doing some heavy Solo II events in very hot weather, even then only to 1/3 or so. I wouldn't expect any less from an e-fan install. If my temps were going to half-way I'd start being VERY concerned.