not entirely overheating, but the car does start to creep up over a decent hill climb. It will get to almost 1/2 way on the gauge before I cop out and let it cool down. I'm totally stumped here.

I have tested my fan clutch and swapped with a replacement for re-assurance. I've also replaced the thermostat with a Mazda one, and put in a new radiator about 2 months ago.

The car runs a little cool on the highway and fluctuates in the city: 1/8 - 1/3 on the gauge.

I am starting to look at the water pump now, though this doesn't seem like a wp issue. Any input would be great.

 

It's normal.

 

Yea engine works harder going uphill

Rotary > Pistons

 

I had the same problem, read up on the issue and saw that one of the problems is the stock fan clutch. Supposedly it 'is no good' and 'gives out quickly' and needs to be replaced with a e-fan, which will solve this problem. When I read this, I checked to make sure my stockfan was working correctly, which it was, to make sure that I didnt have to buy an e-fan. I was baffled because I had a new water pump, new mazda thermostat, and flushed my radiator counless times. Even though my radiator didnt seem clogged when I flushed it, I ended up just buying an aftermarket one from this forum.

Hopefully this helps with my overheating uphill problem because I find it very annoying that I have to stop on the side of the road because my needle hits the halfway point and will continue to go up if I dont. For god sakes, I have an Rx7 which shouldnt be seen on the side of the road with the 'yields' on LOL

 

thanks for the help. I wasn't sure as I did so much research. How hot is too hot where you should start to worry?

 

try to limit your driving to down hill only

 

If the stock clutch fan is operating properly it works great, they can be replaced for cheap.

An efan is really only needed to free up space.

Rotary > Pistons

 

Where does one buy a new "cheap" thermoclutch?

 

you don't need a new one, get one for 20 bucks at the bone yard.

Test and spin it and see if it has resistance, spin it for like a minute until it free spins...stop for a few seconds...spin it again and see if it has resistance...ifbit passes this test it should be fine

why use an efan that draws more electrical power from a pretty much overloaded electrical system....the stock fan pushes plenty of air...get a water temp gauge and a spare clutch fan for a backup...

Efans look great cosmetically and free up much needed space for inter cooler piping etc, but mechanically the stock fan works just fine.

I have a one speed fiero efan sitting taking up space.

Rotary > Pistons

 

at highway speeds the radiator doesn't really need much additional help from the fan, if you have an UNDERTRAY.

sadly approximately 3 in 4 FCs that come in are missing that one key component. even the RX8s are creeping in at 1 in 4 missing the undertray and they are worse about cooling without it. my 8 was missing the undertray and would run up to half on the gauge on the freeway, even a hastily thrown together half done undertray covering the bottom of the radiator made a huge difference and brought it almost back to normal even on 115F+ days with the A/C running.

 

Yeah, that change of scenery from Frisco to Vegas must have been hardly noticeable.

 

You should post a dyi on how to make one because I'm pretty sure they get lost really easily..and mine never even came with one..

 

I've still got to put my undertray on, people not using the under tray are as bad as people not using the fan shroud.

Rotary > Pistons

 

if they were that easy to fabricate there probably would be a DIY. the 8 has a very intricate undertray compared to the FC but you can manage by using just a flat sheet, rivets and adding attachment points to the plastic panels. the FC has a U shaped undertray with a few reliefs and odd angles to replicate, which is why even even the body panel suppliers likely haven't duplicated it yet.

with a sheet metal brake and some time anything is possible, except i don't have a sheet metal brake, i have a flat 90* surface and 2 hands.

ideally it also would be made of ABS plastic and not sheet aluminum, but that creates an even more difficult challenge.