Can anyone tell me a solid Numerical reading for what is DANGEROUSLY HOT for an 86 N/A (s4)...
215 F ??
230 F??

I know that I have a blown coolant seal but I have to limp it to my shop and I don't want to pop the motor via Overheating it....
Also, It's a good 15 mile hike to the shop from where the car is and YES I am broke at the moment to have it towed... (Spent all the money on rebuild parts for the motor....)

Thanks in advance!!!

 

Your post count implies you're new here.
Learn how to search efficiently.

When I punched in "water temp too hot" into the search-this-section box, I get tons of hits.
Including this one...
https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/what-too-high-water-temp-663516/


-Ted

 

You already have a blown coolant seal, so you aren't going to "pop" the motor by overheating it. Now you could do further damage to other parts of the engine, though.

Here is my recommendation if you absolutely have to drive it:
First, drive when there will be no traffic (4 AM for example) so you don't have to stop, not to mention it will be much cooler. Make sure you start with a full coolant system. Accelerate slowly and drive around 30-40 MPH in 5th gear. I don't know how blown your coolant seal is, but that alone should be enough. I got mine 45 miles on a really blown seal, and drove it to Arlington (over 120 miles) with a fairly blown seal.

Now from my experience (and I have a good bit of it) the main problem with a blown coolant seal is that is pressurizes the system, forcing the coolant out into the overflow tank, and it only overheats after the coolant is very low. You can get around this problem pretty easily. If its REALLY blown, get one of the bleed-off rad caps from a parts place. If you start getting temps over about 200 in the driving conditions I described (cool outside, low load, moving), then stop and bleed of the excess pressure from the system (wear gloves, as hot coolant is no fun!) Fill up the system with room temp coolant/water and get rid of as much air bubbles as you can. To do this I put on the cap then squeeze the upper rad hose to circulate the coolant, then add more coolant and repeat.

I doubt you will even need to do that, though, since its such a short distance.


A final word: tear down the engine IMMEDIATELY. If you don't, the coolant in the chamber will turn any salvageable parts into rusty scrap metal.


Oh yeah, to answer your question, 215 is starting to get a bit worisome, but people (such as RETed) have reported running higher than that with no problems. In your case, though, you want to stop before it gets that hot since the cause is low coolant, which is easily fixable.

 

Thanks Sideways7, Kinda the answer I was looking for... No its not totally horrible but I do know that overheating a 7 is DEATH. SO I want to steer WAYYY clear of doing that... The exhaust is a nice white and a plenty of sweet smells After a small drive the temp does seem to creep up to around 205ish and that worries me. HOWEVER I do have the sensor put in a stupid place (for lack of a TAP at the moment, have one now tho...)

DallasFC1

 

good thread.