New fmic and cooling problems on the highway. Up to 230*

[96gstdsm]

Just got a big ssac fmic installed. I am now having some cooling problems. When I am stopped or going slowly in traffic etc the temps are around 210* or so. For some reason though when I am going on the highway just cruising the temps go up as high as 230*
Shouldn't it be cooler on the highway? I always figured that the cooling problems would be when stopped or going slowly. Could this be another problem? The thermostat was replaced I know. What temps are safe or unsafe? Could it be that I just need to bleed the coolant system and refill? What is the deal with the mod of drilling a 1/2" hole in the thermostat housing? Anything I can check before I assume it is just not getting enough air somehow on the highway? Obviously I am aware that the fmic is blocking a lot of air, but from my understandings most people don't have any issue on the highway. Traffic I can understand more but not when moving with all the air coming up from underneath and all. Also the temps when on the highway go up and down for some reason. Like from 218* to 226* about. The stock gauge shows it going from just over the middle line to about 3/4 the way to hot and then just back down again and repeats. My logger shows that the temps are changing as the stock gauge changes also.

 

[bbray]

The air will try to get out the easiest way it can. Try to use sheet metal or some kind of plastic that makes it so the air from the front mount has to keep going through the radiator instead of out the bottom or sides right after the front mount.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245981&highlight=cardboard

See how this guy made it so there are no gaps on the side. The air has to keep moving after the front mount. This makes it so it will have to go through the radiator.

 

[96gstdsm]

I will try to see what I can get to fit in there and make some sort of a duct. As long as I get a little more air to the radiator I will be happy.

On another note has anyone ran into problems wen cutting the stock upper intercooler hole a little bigger and putting a 90* pipe there and putting the air filter there? Figured I might as well clear up some space there and colder intake temps are never a problem either. Was thinking of maybe getting this to shield it a little more from rain and all.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AIR-FILTER-HEAT-SHIELD-3000GT-ECLIPSE-MONTERO-GALANT_W0QQitemZ160145723399QQihZ006QQcategoryZ38634QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Either that or just making some sort of a shield. Have people noticed much cooler intake temps?
An extra bend wouldn't mess up air flow in the intake enough to make it worse would it?

 

[No_Skillz]

Have you done the flush like I described yet?

 

[96gstdsm]

Have you done the flush like I described yet?

Unfortunately didn't have time yet today, got the distilled water though haha. Will be doing it tomorrow. Gotta find a place that has water wetter. Went to carquest which is near me and they didn't have it.

 

[No_Skillz]

If that still doesn't work you can try cutting off the upper lip of the stock bumper for some more airflow. I know some people might not want to do this but I personally think it looks better.

 

[96gstdsm]

If that still doesn't work you can try cutting off the upper lip of the stock bumper for some more airflow. I know some people might not want to do this but I personally think it looks better.

Which piece is it your talking about? Not quite sure I understand.

 

[No_Skillz]

The upper "teeth" on the gaping "mouth." On a stock bumper it is black and not painted. It's got ribbed lines going horizontally.

 

[96gstdsm]

OK thanks. I think how my fmic is if that is cut out then it will just be the actual bumper behind it as that was not completely removed.

 

[No_Skillz]

The bumper shouldn't be behind that part.

 

[96gstdsm]

The bumper shouldn't be behind that part.

I'll look again but I'm pretty sure it was.

 

[bbray]

There should be a piece behind it but you can cut that off too. Depending on how big your fmic is, if you cut that off, you will probably still just have more of your fmic there so it probably wont help cool very much.

 

[bbray]

You could also do the fan mod so you can turn your fans on whenever you want or leave them on all the time. When you are driving and your radiator is not getting a lot of air you can just turn on the fans and it should do it for you.

http://www.vfaq.com/index-main.html

Click on electrical then on cooling fan relay bypass. It is an easy mod and will definatly keep your car cooler.

 

[96gstdsm]

Unfortunately I really can't work on my car today, but one thing I noticed yesterday I forgot to mention is that according to my logger, when I step on the gas while idling the coolant temps get lower. Is this normal? Went from like 215 to 197* just from revving the engine up a bit. Does that make the fans go faster or something?

Edit:
Also the actual bumper is directly behind the teeth part someone was talking about on here. Don't know why that is, but nothing can be cut to allow more air.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Have you wrapped your exhaust manifold/02 housing/downpipe?
While not the cause of your problem, wrapping those items should make a significant improvement to underhood temps.

 

[96gstdsm]

Have you wrapped your exhaust manifold/02 housing/downpipe?
While not the cause of your problem, wrapping those items should make a significant improvement to underhood temps.

I have the stock heat shield over my exhaust manifold. I have not wrapped the o2 housing or downpipe though.

 

[96gstdsm]

I am making a duct or scoop shortly not sure which method but I'll see. Yesterday I was driving my car to go get tuned(didn't work out for other reasons) but I pulled over to check everything and I noticed that the coolant reservoir was filled almost to the brim. I had originally filled it to just over the full line. I filled it after getting it back from the shop that installed a bunch of things, and the reservoir was basically empty.
So obviously as this post is labeled I am having cooling problems. What do you think it means when my reservoir tank fills up more with coolant? Does that just happen from overheating? Bad cap? I haven't noticed any bubbling or anything coming from it. But my temps seem to max out around 224* usually cruising on the highway they are staying at 221*.
No white smoke or anything, good compression, brand new head gasket and motor and everything else.

PS. How many degrees did your coolant temps drop from removing the AC radiator thing(sorry forget the name)?
Since my AC already isn't working for some reason, thought I might just remove that if it will help with my overheating problems. Between that or also maybe a koyo radiator or something.
Also has anyone made a fiberglass duct from the passenger side fog light hole directing air to the radiator?
Thinking of fabricating something up along those lines, but looking for a couple pointers or suggestions.

 

[nightspeed87]

The upper "teeth" on the gaping "mouth." On a stock bumper it is black and not painted. It's got ribbed lines going horizontally.

He has a 96, the gapping mouth are the 97 and up 2gs...

You could also do the fan mod so you can turn your fans on whenever you want or leave them on all the time. When you are driving and your radiator is not getting a lot of air you can just turn on the fans and it should do it for you.

http://www.vfaq.com/index-main.html

Click on electrical then on cooling fan relay bypass. It is an easy mod and will definatly keep your car cooler.

This is a good idea, I have done this...

Unfortunately I really can't work on my car today, but one thing I noticed yesterday I forgot to mention is that according to my logger, when I step on the gas while idling the coolant temps get lower. Is this normal? Went from like 215 to 197* just from revving the engine up a bit. Does that make the fans go faster or something?

Edit:
Also the actual bumper is directly behind the teeth part someone was talking about on here. Don't know why that is, but nothing can be cut to allow more air.

You dont want to get hotter than 205 because 206deg is when the ecu will pull 1deg of timing back... You dont want to be colder than 180 either on the 2g because then you will get horrible gas milage because the ecu stays in learn mode till 180 and doesnt go closed loop for cruising... Optimal temps should range between 180-200 degs ( Thats min and max )

Have you wrapped your exhaust manifold/02 housing/downpipe?
While not the cause of your problem, wrapping those items should make a significant improvement to underhood temps.

Wrapping the exhaust helps some also with heat soaking other under hood components.
You should do this also, and to add to that hood venting is the single best thing from my reading; that relieves the engine bay the most of heat soak and hot air absorbing ...
I plan on doing this eventually.

On my gst I did cut the front bumper to give it the nostril effect which aided the air flow to the radiator a lot more than one would assume because it allowed air to pass over the height of the fmic. On my awd 1g I didnt do this due to the bumper being shaped different and not having the already nostril like look between the headlights.

What I also did to aid air flow to the fmic and radiator is using a piece of sheet metal and attaching it from the bottom end of the front bumper ( using the stock bolts that run along the bottom and running it to under the radiator... It doesnt nessecarily have to be a scoop up to the radiator, as even just keeping all the air in the fmic will aid radiator flow also.
The objective is to not let the air flow that enters the bumper opening to escape under the car.
Also i have a 180deg thermostat and run straight distilled water with a good amount of water wetter... Proves to be the best for cooling. I plan on upgrading to a koyo in the future.

Good luck.

 

[96gstdsm]

Hey thanks a lot. By the way I did the 97-99 front end conversion.
How dangerous is seeing 224* on the highway? It is usually 221* but will sometimes go up to 224* Cruising is more around 213*-217*. Which is still high but not as bad I wouldn't think.
Do you know how much lower the coolant temps should be when removing the AC evaporator or whatever it is called that is directly in front of the radiator?

 

[Gstclipse69]

I just recently installed a fmic and was having mild overheating problems, nothing over about 218 which I wasn't thrilled with. So I went ahead and said the heck with the AC and removed the condensor in front of the radiator this past weekend. I havent seen anything over about 203 since. I havent done a lot of highway driving, once I can remember but I was pleased with the difference.

 

[nightspeed87]

Hey thanks a lot. By the way I did the 97-99 front end conversion.
How dangerous is seeing 224* on the highway? It is usually 221* but will sometimes go up to 224* Cruising is more around 213*-217*. Which is still high but not as bad I wouldn't think.
Do you know how much lower the coolant temps should be when removing the AC evaporator or whatever it is called that is directly in front of the radiator?

I dont know what difference there will be but bottom line is it will improve airflow to the radiator. Log it and find out the results after you remove it.