Rx7RedHead80

Hey Y'all

I own a 85' GSl and I am having horrible overheating problems.
Here's the run down, shortly after getting the car my temp sensor blew. I thought this was due to the water pump so I replaced the temp sensor, the thermostat and the water pump, as well as all new spark plus and oil change.

10 minutes after startup it is already overheated!

I just kinda need to know what's the next step is to take. I was thinking the fan clutch?

What are your guys opinions. Anything helps!

LongDuck

Rod-out your radiator. Most of the time, overheating is caused by a clogged up radiator from people not changing coolant. When the sediment builds up, it prevents clean flow from top to bottom, and the heat has nowhere to go. A bad radiator fan would overheat when sitting still, but quickly cool down when underway with cool air flowing through the front. A clogged radiator overheats at all speeds, worse when underwaybecause more fuel is being burned,... Thermodynamics.

Reply back if that fixes it; a new waterpump and thermostat is always a good investment. Welcome aboard,

Richard Miller

if I recall. the fanclutch should have some drag to it when spinning by hand. could the radiator be plugged? I would have it serviced at a radiatorshop

Rx7RedHead80

What would you recommend? Like a Prestone flush and filll? A regular garden nozzle. I heard you could even use vingear?

Richard Miller

At the age these cars are I would take the radiator out and have a radiator shop hot tank or what ever its called now. That radiator flush off the shelf stuff will not budge 30 years of sludge in your radiator. Just like eating a bran muffin won't free my arteries of all the cheeseburgers I have eaten over the past 30 years.

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

Also check the prices of a radiator hot tank vs a new one. It cost me $60 to have one hot tanked and a new radiator cost $150. I'd rather have the new rad at that price.

CARQUEST or ToughOne Radiator 810097: Advance Auto Parts

Rx7RedHead80

Okay, so I got my radiator cleaned out and I am planning to take it on a test drive tonight after work. So we will wait and see. Thank you guys for all the help. I will let you know how it goes!

midnight mechanic

If it is the radiator, you can tell by checking to coolant flow. Start the engine cold with the radiator cap OFF, let it warm up. There should be a very strong turbulent flow.

I got a pepboys radiator. While it addressed the problem, the radiator got all deformed. Eventually the fan hit the radiator. I went to an independent, that sold me the correct one. It was made company that used 3 letters for its name.

LongDuck

When OP says 'got it cleaned out' does that mean you took it to a radiator repair shop and had them unsolder the top tank, and then stick a brass rod down each of the coolant passages while they run boiling water through the radiator? This is called 'rodding-out' a radiator and is good medicine every decade or so - more often if you're not big on changing your coolant regularly.

If you just added 'some stuff', then you're not going to fix this problem that easily. Hoping for the best,

Richard Miller

I was impressed a radiator shop was open on Sunday and got the job done that fast. Kidding aside he asked what the next step should be. Replacing the engine! Seriously though, RXRedHead if you made it home and the engine runs cooler, great job! Please consider replacing or rodding out the radiator. I think you may be on borrowed time.

Richard Miller

Looks like Racing Beat has a cooling tech article:

Rotary Tech Tips: Water Cooling

#7 looks bad if the radiator work still did not fix your problem.

andernamen

iTrader: (2)

You cannot rod out a stock radiator without tearing it apart. My radiator was dipped and flushed at shops twice - still didn't do the trick and ultimately was the cause of my engines' demise. A new radiator is relatively cheap and easy to install. As soon as you install it, your overheating problems will most likely go away.