Overheating (?) issue?

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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Today I made a run to Tucson in the Q to look at a car...

Heading out of Phoenix, I settled in at approx 90-100 mph... A/C on, ambient temp 108.

Approximately 20 minutes later I'm running 100-110 and notice my temp gauge is higher than 3:00 position.... About 2:30 or so...

I immediately shut off the A/C, roll down the windows, but maintain speed. It takes 10 minutes to return to normal 3;00 position.

I stop for lunch and check the gauge after 2 minutes of shutdown (to ensure against a "hot soak" condition) - it's cooling down nicely. Check the coolant overflow tank, all is normal...

Back on the road. A/C on, 100 mph, temp again gets to the 2:30 position. Shut off A/C, run the rest of the way into Tucson without it.

RETURNING from Tucson, I maintain 100 mph (some sprints to 110, some lulls to 90) with A/C on, temp never reaches past the 3:00 mark. Same ambient temp, nothing's changed...:confused:

Need some advice from Dennis / Scott / other pros - What's the first thing i should check? Recent coolant flush, 50/50 mix (damn dealer's idea), all new belts / hoses...

New radiator necessary?


DAEDALUS
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Not sure how far you are from as-designed cooling, but Tucson is almost 1300' higher in elevation than Phoenix. You were traveling slightly uphill there and downhill back. Ambient of 108 is pretty freakin hot.

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azskygod
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Agreed. Whenever ambient gets over 110 my needle will rise a bit in stop-and-go traffic even with a new radiator, thermostat, water pump, fan, clutch, caps, hoses and a 70/30 mix. The whole cooling system is new and less than 6 months old.

Holding a fast idle at the lights usually helps keep things under control. No problems on the freeway though. Of course, I don't usually maintain 100+ MPH for more than a few minutes in the summer heat!

Desperate times call for desperate measures... Nex time try cranking the heater to FULL. It will be hot as hell, but the temperature will come down more quickly. Check the easy stuff first. Caps, thermostat, etc. and maybe dilute your mix a little.

AZSKYGOD

Q45tech
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Does radiator have brand new foam surround to seal leaking air on bottom and sides. Is new radiator oem not a copy?

VimyJ
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I wonder if going to 60/40 and adding "Water Wetter" would increase your cooling system's performance. The low humidity of desert air decreases it's ability to carry heat away from the rad. 108 is pretty effing hot!

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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Dennis - Radiator is factory original, never replaced. Guess that's a good place to start...

Foam surrounds are intact, and I am running WW (although mix is too heavy on AF in my opinion).

Q45tech
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In Summer at high speed extra Antifreeze has no place in a Q radiator except the minimal need to carry anticorrosion additives.http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/tech0011.html

Luckily antifreeze [ethylene glycol] is prohibited in racing due to accidential/wreck spills effect on track friction.

Wetter water will raise the coolant temp by pulling more nucleate boiling out of heads [aids in contact transfer] but that is good!

I always run distilled water and maybe 25% Prestone Orange, plus WW plus a splash of BG Coolant additives.

Antifreeze has a latent heat of vaporization of 195 calories per gram compared to waters 540

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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Good info.

I'll swap in a new radiator, new foam surrounds, and (finally) get my coolant mixture done the way I want it.

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90Q45blue
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Yeah, if it's a factory radiator you need to get it replaced, especially in AZ. I'll bet its balls-hot there right now.

Nick

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AZhitman
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110 today.

Surface of asphalt in front of my house? 168 at 4pm.

maxnix
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1995 Infiniti Q45t
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AZhitman wrote:Good info.

I'll swap in a new radiator, new foam surrounds, and (finally) get my coolant mixture done the way I want it.
Excellent chance to see what Griffin has for the G50.

ardvarkus
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Hitman..

Let us know where you end up with the new radiator. I know I need to replace this one (140k on it- not well maintained), and have been reading past posts on OEM vs. aftermarket vs Griffin.

I haven't seen any quantitative differences between them discussed- general quality seems to be the major factors, with a performance edge to the Griffin (that Dennis had made)

I'd like to see a radiator that is entirely for coolant (I handle my trans cooling separately). I'd guess this would be an upgrade from the stock design.

Keep us posted

Ard

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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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I'm gonna have a custom one made locally.

Just got off the phone with the guy. :)

maxnix
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Will it be aluminum?

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AZhitman
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Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Yep.

VimyJ
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AZhitman wrote:110 today.

Surface of asphalt in front of my house? 168 at 4pm.


Wrap some bratts in foil and feed the kids. :D

If your ever took a chemistry class, you know how amazing H20 is. Tremendous heat carrying ability, excellent solvent properites and crystalizes into a lighter state than when liquid. I could go on.

ardvarkus
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maxnix wrote:Will it be aluminum?
What will it cost? Stock mounts? No transmission heat exchanger in it? Inquiring minds want to know...

as do I

Ard

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AZhitman
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Posts: 54542
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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Stock mounts.

Thicker than factory.

Extra row.

transmission heat exchanger remains.

Metal tanks.

1992Q45A
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Hitman,

Care to share the details? I want to get rid of my plastic tank asap...

I'm entering the Q in it's first event in Mid September (Silver state classic) 90 miles of substained high speed.. shooting for the 120 class..

Would love to get rid of the plastic tank!!

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AZhitman
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Posts: 54542
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 Z32, 91 GTi-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14, 23 Z.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

Post

I had a credit with a NW valley shop that does radiator repair... A big credit.

The guy doing the work says any rad shop should be able to make a triple-core with metal tanks.

All aftermarket units are metal tank - Try Radiator Barn.com as well...

maxnix
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I smell another prototype!


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