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Word: Overheating... help!!!

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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 04:43 PM
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Word: Overheating... help!!!

Ok, here it is... I bought this 1987 Rx-7, a few weeks ago and it ran great and didnt seem to have any problems except normal wear and tear, the guy said it occasionally overheated but not too badly. Well now... a few weeks later... with new clutch fan, water pump, radiator, and hoses and i am still overheating. I read up a little and found out alot of info but alot of info but alot of it contradicted itself so i leave it to you - if you have had this problem or know the solution your advice and comments would be appreciated.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 04:43 PM
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Word: Overheating... help!!!

Ok, here it is... I bought this 1987 Rx-7, a few weeks ago and it ran great and didnt seem to have any problems except normal wear and tear, the guy said it occasionally overheated but not too badly. Well now... a few weeks later... with new clutch fan, water pump, radiator, and hoses and i am still overheating. I read up a little and found out alot of info but alot of info but alot of it contradicted itself so i leave it to you - if you have had this problem or know the solution your advice and comments would be appreciated.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 04:43 PM
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Word: Overheating... help!!!

Ok, here it is... I bought this 1987 Rx-7, a few weeks ago and it ran great and didnt seem to have any problems except normal wear and tear, the guy said it occasionally overheated but not too badly. Well now... a few weeks later... with new clutch fan, water pump, radiator, and hoses and i am still overheating. I read up a little and found out alot of info but alot of info but alot of it contradicted itself so i leave it to you - if you have had this problem or know the solution your advice and comments would be appreciated.Word: Overheating... help!!!
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 04:49 PM
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Check your thermostat if you havent already. Also, do you have a fan shroud? The stock clutch fan wont work too well without a shroud.

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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:00 PM
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Are you loosing coolant (hope not)? How bad does it overheat? Did you bleed out the air? Changed thermostat?
It's a long shot but.... if the previous owner used some sort of radiator sealant , it could have blocked some of the coolant passages and by some chance the area where the temp sensor is blocked. ???? A lot of crud can block passages from rust and debris. The passages are small holes around the housings. Try flushing out the system if that helps.
I think you clicked submit one too many times

Last edited by boosted1205; Jul 2, 2004 at 05:09 PM.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:12 PM
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have you checked the thermostat? those tend to not work correctly after it has been overheated (or at least with my own experience)
Very easy part to replace, if you havent checked it, I'm willing to bet thats whats causing the problem.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:34 PM
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Yep (about the the post button)

Cool, ill give it a flush

But... here is another question, a famous one... what type of oil should i use??? i have looked and there are good cases for and against the use of synthetic oil vs non-synthetic, i've looked alot of postings and the issue still seems not to be widely settled but i am hoping with 20w-50w mobil 1 will solve it or 20w-50w castrol will help solve the issue plus an electric fan add-on. but i will get back tomorrow about the results.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:37 PM
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Yep definately replaced that

Yep definately replaced that and yep got the fan shroud back to square one
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:41 PM
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do you have a Mazda OEM pressure cap and thermostat? Don't use the Stant brand in a rotary engine.
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:49 PM
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thermostat? do u have the underbelly pans on? synthetic now is ok to use on rotarys
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:50 PM
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and you dont need a e-fan with a good working clutch fan
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 05:55 PM
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The oil synth vs. dino style myth has been throwned out.

Royal Purple on their site explains that the synthetic burns cleaner than dino styl ebecause it is a purified and cleaner base while regular isn't refunded as much.

SO, It's up to you which to use.

Once I'm done going through my break in procedure I will switch to Royal purple.

Spending that much on oil which stays in a car for 500 miles is crazy! Dino for now
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 06:28 PM
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also do you still have your undertray...
and also make 1 of these and direct the ai flow beeter through the radiator.
http://www.speedmachineperformance.c...il?v=1&pid=874
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 06:28 PM
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please only hit submit once.. I merged or deleted your other threads on this
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 06:29 PM
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also between the radiator and the body front beam ..make the panl overlap onto the radiator

cause there is meant to be some foam/sponge there and our car being so old it just disappears
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 07:15 PM
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Re: Yep definately replaced that

The underpan and front plastic shrouds (the flimsy black ones in front of the radiator) help direct air *through* the radiator and helps a lot in terms of cooling.
If you're not loosing coolant and you changed what you stated, it's probaby something minor such as a thermostat (buy Mazda) or missing shrouds.
Better fix that before it gets REALLY hot in Texas. I've been there and it's ****** *HOT* in the summer (Abilene-- Dyess AFB)




Originally posted by GionamiRx7
Yep definately replaced that and yep got the fan shroud back to square one
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Old Jul 2, 2004 | 07:27 PM
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Try pressure testing the cooling system. Check the underside of your radiator caps and make sure they're not cracked or hardened from overheating.

Ive been having pretty bad overheating problems in phoenix, and im going for a radiator flush, some new caps, and i just installed my new perma-cool finger chopper
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 07:27 PM
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Angry WELL i THINK I HAVE AN IDEA!!! CRAP

Ok the radiator caps, thermostat, water pump, radiator, clutch fan, hoses have been replaced, still overheating and still so after some research I think that it could be my o-rings, so here is why:
1. upon start up - hard to start and white
smoke coming out of exhaust, it feels like
the gas is not getting there but then after
that it's feels like it's about to turn off
because of lack of gas but after a few
seconds it runs fine....
2. when it warms up it runs fine for about 5 min
at the 1/3 way mark then moves up to the
1/2 (the average normal temp should be
about 1/3?? Right?? ), then it moves up to
7/6 and have already pulled over and started
to get out the 5! bottles of water and coolant
I keep in the car.... no joke. although it is
goofy looking
3. I get lots of hot air coming from my overflow
tank... not sure if it is water boiling or
exhaust
4. when i start the car i can smell gasoline... b/c
the heat vent is up all the way so it wont
overheat too quick

So these are the reasons, I'm new at this and have been doing my best to understand and really love this car, (I usually drive modded Camaros but I wanted something new, and well I got it... I just have to figure out what to do with it!!!)
Let me know : "am I on the right path???" and if you have and other helpful advice let me know!!! THanks for your help!!!
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 07:33 PM
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Wow...Ever rebuilt a Camaro engine? If not, you'll get your chance soon to do a rotary
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 07:42 PM
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how do you check to see if ur thermostat is shot? my fc4s ran 1/2 gauge all the time till I changed the radiator fluid, now it runs 3/4 gauge because I have a little too much coolant in there. (will be having a professional change my coolant to a proper 35/65 mix) the faq says I should be running a 1/4 gauge so that's why I think it's off.
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Old Jul 8, 2004 | 08:01 PM
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Check your timing. If the timing is off, the car will overheat, or at least run hot. It does sound to me like a blown O-ring, but it's worth checking.

When your car is cold, pull the upper radiator cap. Start the car. If you get bubbles coming up & out (probably will smell like exhaust), it's rebuild time.

-=Russ=-
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 02:04 AM
  #22  
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closure....

hahaha thats what i thought but oh well... at least now i have closure.... oh and yes I have built some Camaro engines and am currently working on one, its a modded ls1 block with about 450horse and hopefully about 500 torque. Currently i have a 74 Camaro
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Old Jul 9, 2004 | 02:15 AM
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closure....

hahaha thats what i thought but oh well... at least now i have closure.... oh and yes I have built some Camaro engines and am currently working on one, its a modded ls1 block with about 450horse and hopefully about 500 torque. Currently i have a 74 Camaro
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