TallestHERETIC’s 99 Eclipse GSX

[TallestHERETIC]

Build journal

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Welcome to my build thread! I'm slowly restoring my DSM while at the same time upgrading it with lots of performance parts. I bought it way back in June of 2011 while I worked at AutoZone. Only 80K on the dash when I found it! I tried saving it and protecting it as much as I could throughout the years. It is now January 2020 and I still have it in my possession. Here are some pictures of all the parts I've collected and hoarded by hunting down sales and deals....

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Here is how the car looks like right now....

 

[TallestHERETIC]

So my car is overheating. How convenient right? The coolant itself is fine and pretty recent but the temperature needle is slowly going towards H. My best guess is the oil filter housing or the oil pump. The filter looks a little dented and crushed, kind of like a beer can. It drips a little after I drive it. Both my oil light and oil switch are new, barely a month old.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Those are a lot of parts . When does the temp go up?

 

[TallestHERETIC]

After about 20 minutes or so of driving. Maybe I need an oil cooler? The oil gauge shows good pressure and builds up quickly when I first start it up. Im definitely stumped on this one.

 

[Evolving_sti]

Maybe you have some air pockets in the system or just need a nre thermostat

 

[AWD-Tony]

So no matter what, 20 min local or highway, it starts getting hot? I’d try a thermostat

 

[jinscho]

Wait... Did I miss something? Car is overheating after 20 min of driving, but we're looking at the oil cooler?

Definitely replace the dented oil filter, however don't expect that to solve your overheating issue. Like @tk106 stated, I'd try the thermostat first. Sounds like it's stuck closed, preventing the coolant from cycling through the radiator. Easy way to test this is to run the car for 10-15 min and then check the upper and lower radiator hoses. If one is hot, but the other isn't, you have a faulty thermostat.

 

[TallestHERETIC]

The reason why I said it’s the pump or housing is because oil has been spotting my driveway lately. It’s really hot, too! Like burning hot. I think it isn’t cooling properly but I’m still researching it. The thermostat checked out fine. You can hear it click open and close. Both hoses feel the same, too. No coolant leaks.

 

[AWD-Tony]

You’re not going to hear the thermostat click, it’s a spring. Once it reaches the temp it’s rated at, it opens to allow coolant to flow back into the radiator.

Oil is hot after you run an engine. It will burn you after some driving.

Does it over heat while you’re driving or stopped, or does that not matter?

 

[jinscho]

Yeah, having previously worked at a quicklube, engine oil will burn the #$@* out of you straight from the pan after the car was running. Unfortunate first hand knowledge . The oil cooler can be completely removed and the lines capped and it wouldn't cause an overheating issue. That's why I'm confident in ruling the oil cooler out as your overheating cause. May be the source of your oil leak, but definitely not the overheating.

Also, like @tk106 said, thermostat shouldn't be providing an audible click. The upper and lower radiator hoses being the same temp is a positive sign that the thermostat is functioning as intended though.

Have you verified that the radiator fans are functioning properly?

 

[TallestHERETIC]

Yup! The fans work perfect. It turns on and then off after a little while. I’m definitely going to look into the thermostat issue. I’ll test it using the boiling water method. It should be ok judging from both hoses being hot to the touch. Thanks so much! You guys are awesome!