89 240sx overheating on the hwy

[neo240sx]

I've got an aluminum radiator and 2 12" Efans on it. They do find in city driving. The IC is in the way of the air that would flow past the radiator. I've got no room for a clutch fan or even own one for that matter. What should I do?
It usually takes about 15 or 20 mins of hwy driving to bring the temps past the 90*C range and at that point the fans are on all the time.

[speedeast]

Yeah, I would hate to see it get warmer than that. You need to bleed your cooling system. When you're done with that, bleed it again. When in doubt, bleed it again. It's a very picky system and likes to hang on to bubbles, elevate the rear end and bleed, then elevate the front end and bleed.

[poshatch]

my ka would overheat at the tracks on long runs...running stock radiator and 8" pusher nad 14" puller and it still overheated

got the coolant to water ratio right after a flush and it was golden

[neo240sx]

maybe I just need to flush it then. I'm sure its pretty dirty in there. I'm about to run strait water and water weter and see what happens

[speedeast]

Just make sure you finish up with a 50/50 mix. Capacity is around 7.25 quarts with the reservoir. Don't spray it in there with a garden hose, fill up gallon jugs and pour it in there slowly as not to aerate the water. Bubbles are nearly inevitable, but taking precautions can reduce how difficult it will be to bleed it.

[neo240sx]

I think my problem more than anything is that I blocked the radiator with a big fat IC and now air wont pass though. I might take the bumper off and drive on the hwy like that and see if it changes anything. I'll do the flush & bleed and if that doesnt work I might have to make a big hole in the piggy!

[NismoS13Ks]

I had the same problem when i first bought my car. I drove from phoenic to tucson, turns out there was no thermastat...

[crash n burn]

i know this may sound stupid, but its an easy mistake. my friend had this happen when he put a new rad. and fans in his gsr. he hooked the fans up in reverse. pushing the air instead of pulling it(mounted in the engine bay). on the highway he overheated because of it..just something to check.

[neo240sx]

yeah I know thats not it I can feel the air being pulled from the radiator by the fans. so I know there working right. I think I'm just not getting any air flow through on the hwy. It must be just going around the radiator or something. I need to make some kind of air dam for it.

[poshatch]

you got 2 12 inch puller e fans and its still overheating? even after the flush and the correct water to coolant ratio? maybe time for a bigger radiator?

[biggie]

Where are you and how hot is it?

No one noticed that 90 C is 194 F? Stock Fans don't cut on until 215-220 F. 180-200F is normal operatiing temp, especially with stock Rad and hot day (85F+).

[speedeast]

He said "past the 90*C range" -- my car never goes past the normal operating temperature, but his car otherwise seems normal.

[neo240sx]

ok I think I fixed it. After bleeding it several times I noticed a leak. I fixed the leak and drove it for 3 hours on the hwy. The temps got up to 87*C at times and the fans stayed on almost the whole time but it made it. I did notice that the CX racing radiator doesnt fill the gaps on the sides like the stock one did. I think air may be dodging the radiator.