Heats up while cruising...

[98spydert]

Swapped in a new turbo last weekend, changed coolant to Prestone 150k Orange stuff, new napa thermostat, and oil/filter change. Now everything drives fine but today I needed to make an hour drive to my dad's house and about 15min into it the temp gauge moves from it's normal half way up reading to 3/4 of the way up. I can bring it back down by either going WOT/full boost, lower gear/higher rpms, or cranking the heater all the way up. This is a 2G spyder, mods in the profile.

There doesn't seem to be any oil in coolant or coolant in oil and nothing smokes or leaks. this is all at about 10 psi (as low as I could crank it on the mbc.) Any ideas? I have yet to do a compression test because I'm still at my dad's house.

Could the orange coolant or napa thermostat be the cause? I also did a pretty good flush before adding the new coolant. Thanks

 

[98spydert]

Sound like a head gasket problem?

 

[98spydert]

I'm leaning between a HG or a busted water pump now... niether easy jobs

 

[98spydert]

Anyway to test for a trashed water pump?

 

[cuong1106]

did u let the engine warm up and then let the thermastat open so it can let water flow into the block? did you let the the cooling fans turn off before u capped the cap where u fill the radiator fluid? maybe ur thermastat isnt opening or maybe u didnt let the engine warm up enough to open the thermastat so it can flow through the block. cause i had this problem. being it was the thermastat. i changed a new one in and let the coolant and water flowed until the fans turned on which means the thermostat is opened then add more fluid and water in.

 

[98spydert]

The thermostat's new and I let the engine fill with coolant when filling it.

 

[COHIBAGSX]

I'm having similar problems, but have way more mods than you. I was adviced/ recommended the following: You may wanna try a 180 degree thermostat and a 50/50 coolant water mixture along with a 16-18lbs radiator cap. if that doesnt work try 14" fans.

 

[98spydert]

I shouldn't need cooling system upgrades or changes to the stock parts to keep things cool while cruising. If it were a wot problem I could see that but it actually cools back down to normal after doing a WOT run. Basically, something broke and I'm having a hard time tracking it down.

 

[IMMORTALSPYDER]

Just a stupid question, but did you install the thermostat upside down? Your symptoms don't sound like it, but it's an easy fix if you did.

 

[Littlebeeper]

I'm about to change out the thermostat and the radiator cap to see if tha cured my problem. I would be fine in town, but i went 30 miles on the highway to the next town and didn't even make it 10 miles before overheating. I put water in and noticed that the gasket on the radiator cap was torn. it lasted another 15 miles with water in the radiator, same torn gasket on the cap and the heater full blast doing 70 to get to the next town. The thing doesnt smoke or have any mixed fluids. hopefully its the damn radiator cap. any more ideas would help us both out

 

[98spydert]

Just a stupid question, but did you install the thermostat upside down? Your symptoms don't sound like it, but it's an easy fix if you did.

That didn't seem possible when i put it in, but no I put the new one in just like the old one was.

 

[98spydert]

What's wrong with the thermostat being rotated 180 degrees the wrong way? Would it cause something like I'm seeing? I looked in the chiltons and it says the "jiggle valve" needs to be up at 12 oclock. What the hell is a jiggle valve?

I did a compression test about 2 months ago and it was 195,160,200,200. I did another one yesterday and it was 195,160,190,195 The plugs looked perfect.

I don't really mind doing a head gasket or a water pump. It won't take me that long but I just don't want to invest all of the time and the money on parts to do the job and end up with the same problem. I just have to pin point it!!!

 

[98spydert]

So it won't open all of the way?

 

[98spydert]

I drained the coolant to check out the thermostat and there was oil in it this time... there's my problem! Pesky oil Whatever, I'm just gonna brake down and do the head gasket, timing belt, water pump, and all related parts next weekend. That should fix it and any other hidden problems.

BTW the napa thermostat didn't have a jiggle valve on it like the OEM one did. It was actually completly different even though it fit and worked.

 

[98spydert]

Yes I watched it, the thermostat opened properly. I'm still getting a mitsu piece though just to be sure.

 

[RamenPride]

You may wanna try a 180 degree thermostat

2G's come with 180degree thermostats from the factory

 

[98spydert]

Update to my old thread, replaced the head gasket and it stopped overheating. Everythings perfect .... for now