overheating
 

First Id like to start by saying i am a proud new owner of a super clean 86 GXL, 120k mi, excellent inside and out, with the exception of a brand new header back stainless exhaust the car is stock. This is a big jump from my previous car ( 98 civic ex 1.6 sohc vtec) and while we are on the subjuect of exhaust, i have never heard of the brand Imotoria? that s what it says on my 2 cans in the rear. JW if anyone has ever heard of this type of exhaust. Anyway, the car runs excellent, and runs rather cool while driviing, which is what i like to see, but i notice it will heat up alot when i let it idle, when i run into the store and crap. i ordered a new thermostat today, i believe that the stock stat is supposed to open a 180, the retard at advance auto order one that opened up at 195, i told the little peckerhead just give me what it says belongs on the car. So hopefully i will have that tommorow after. once i get in it and go the temp goes right back down to normal. I havent seen it hit the "H" but it gets right up there, i am amsuming the stock stat is sticking, any other suggestions?

also, what is started op temp for running, and at what temp is the stat supposed to open, 180? I am a noob whit the 7 still but im looking forward to learning alot about this amazing machine.

not that this would have anything to do with overheating but the car does not have Cat Conv., i need to get a direct fit one to quiet her down, ive had the car on the rd less that a week and my neighbors hate me already.

sry, i meant to say what is regular OP temp, a little buzzed sorry.

Nothing works like an OEM thermostat. I haven't seen any that are OEM style except from mazda. They are kind of like a dual thermostat really. They control the coolnat flow to the radiator and they also control coolant flow through a little passage that goes back to the water pump. This allows the coolant to circulate and help to heat the engine up more evenly. I don't have any pictures to help you visualize it though.

Well, what is different between cruising and idling? Air flow is your difference. Perhaps your fan clutch is tired and not working good. Don't let your car over heat. You will have big problems if you do. Also, have you flushed the old coolant and replaced with new? Do you own a big ass box fan? Get one and stick it in front of your car and let it blow through the radiator at idle. Does your temps stay low then?

ok ty, it seems the car was very well maintained, all recipts, oil changed every 1500, coolant look very fresh, all i had to do was slap new spark plug in her and that was it, other than the plugs it appears the car had a full tuneup within the last 1000 miles. i had a similar prob with the civic, and i replaced the stat and that seemed to slove my probs, i fig'd i would see if it would be anything else since i havent an clue about these cars and motors

cruising the tmp is maybe just a about between 1/4 and 1/2 the way up on the guage, it does not give me exact temp, and when idling i can heat up to more than 3/4 up. i rev the eng and it goes down almost instantly, that swhy i have a feeling it might be stat, new airfilter, spk plugs, ill have to find out how to chk the fan clutch

i beluieve i have a mazda shop manual, laying around somewhere

+1 vote for bad fan clutch or possibly a missing fan shroud?

Grab an empty paper towel roll and poke it at the fan. Does it stop with almost instantly? Do this when engine is warm. Does it take a good amount of force to make the fan stop? On the one that I had go bad, I could stop it with my finger. :scared: But I only did this after I verified with a paper towel roll. I did the same paper towel trick on the other car and it needed lots of force, but just bent the paper towel roll.