engine overheat?

[89TX5.0]

Well my old electric fan went out and I decided to use a flex-a-lite fan. Well everything was fine and dandy until a couple of days ago. It had overheated on the way to a mall. When i stopped radiator fluid was leaking and smoke everywhere. Its ok for like 10 min drives as long as I barely touch the gas . any ideas?

[StillGoin5.0]

do u have a fan shroud?

[HiFlow5 0]

10 minute drives will overheat it again. I suggest ditching the flex-a-lite fan, and running a stock replacment steel fan. Then have the system pressure tested to see where the leak is.

[89TX5.0]

no i dont have a shroud.

[90Stangjc]

Yes, defiently get a fan shroud. The purpose is to keep the air directly fowing to the radiator. Also ditch flexfan, its most likely not your problem but its annoying as all hell. I can hear mine over the exhaust. Your thermostat probably locked up on you, just get a new one or if its not real cold over there just take it out all together. The whole purpose of a thermostat is to get your heater warm faster. If you choose to put a new one in go ahead and get a 160 degree thermostat.

[Wolf]

Where was the coolant leaking from? If your cooling system can't pressurize, it will cause the engine to overheat. It might be that your radiator cap needs to be replaced.

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally Posted by 90Stangjc

Yes, defiently get a fan shroud. The purpose is to keep the air directly fowing to the radiator. Also ditch flexfan, its most likely not your problem but its annoying as all hell. I can hear mine over the exhaust. Your thermostat probably locked up on you, just get a new one or if its not real cold over there just take it out all together. The whole purpose of a thermostat is to get your heater warm faster. If you choose to put a new one in go ahead and get a 160 degree thermostat.

NO, never run a 160 stat or remove it all together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will cause the engine to run too rich and may actually make the motor run hotter, because of the constant cycling of the coolant at the low temp level. Coolant will keep cycling, either not allowing the engine to reach proper temp levels, or on very hot days, cause the motor to run hotter then normal.

I would only suggest a stock type 192* unit such as came with these cars. This will allow the coolant to dissipate heat longer in the radiator, before the stat will allow the cycling process again. Not to mention these motors/computer were designed to operate with it.

Another thing to check is to make sure the flax fan you bought is a reverse rotation fan, otherwise it will heat up very quickly. Again, I suggest running the stock fan and then having the system pressure tested.

[351wStang]

Originally Posted by HiFlow5 0

NO, never run a 160 stat or remove it all together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will cause the engine to run too rich and may actually make the motor run hotter, because of the constant cycling of the coolant at the low temp level. Coolant will keep cycling, either not allowing the engine to reach proper temp levels, or on very hot days, cause the motor to run hotter then normal.

I would only suggest a stock type 192* unit such as came with these cars. This will allow the coolant to dissipate heat longer in the radiator, before the stat will allow the cycling process again. Not to mention these motors/computer were designed to operate with it.

Another thing to check is to make sure the flax fan you bought is a reverse rotation fan, otherwise it will heat up very quickly. Again, I suggest running the stock fan and then having the system pressure tested.

DAMN!

You beat me to it...

[duplox]

A t-stat is intentionally a restriction in the coolant path... a restriction = pressure, pressurized water has a higher boiling point and can absorb more heat... pressure and therefore a tstat are absolutely neccesary in a water cooled engine!! If you don't want the fast warmup a tstat offers, get a restrictor plate. Do not run it open!

[89TX5.0]

thnx for all the help, you guys really cleared out the whole thermostat thing for me.

[90Stangjc]

Oh, sorry. I suggested that because that's what i have done to mine and its runs at a constant 150 degree's all the time after the initial 5 minute drive. Down here the weather varies from 60 degree's at night to 97 degree's in the day and it always stayes the same. I also have a 3-core radiator so that might make things diffrent?

[HiFlow5 0]

Originally Posted by 90Stangjc

Oh, sorry. I suggested that because that's what i have done to mine and its runs at a constant 150 degree's all the time after the initial 5 minute drive. Down here the weather varies from 60 degree's at night to 97 degree's in the day and it always stayes the same. I also have a 3-core radiator so that might make things diffrent?

150* is WAY too cold!!!! Your car much run real rich and get shitty gas mileage.

[thunderbird muscle]

What kind of MPG do you get? Like Highflow said it can't be good!

[90Stangjc]

Originally Posted by thunderbird muscle

What kind of MPG do you get? Like Highflow said it can't be good!

Last time i tested it, it was around 9mpg. Yeah shitty. But i dont think that it could possibly get that bad, i think i tested it wrong. But i think it is a good bit quicker or at least it feels like it. Everybody i race or that see's me jump on it is like "there's no fuckin' way that cars stock!". But i dont know.......it is a mustang.....