Overheating?

[Megaseth]

After going back to a stock clutch fan, and getting a new radiator and thermostat, im still wondering if my car is over heating. it seems to be running HOT. i've noticed the temp gauge shoot up to almost the H, but i dont think its working right cause it just recently did that and i hit the heater and it went down almost imediately. i might run some of that water wetter in the radiator to keep the water more stable and cooler, but is there anything else i should look at? whats the normal operating temp? i was thinking it was around 192 or so, but that seems high. can anyone give me a price on a new temp sensor? i might drain the old coolant and put some new stuff in, as well as look into new hose. would an oil cooler help lower the temp? T.I.A

[niznos]

The stock thermostat is rated at 170, which means it is supposed to start opening at 170 and be fully open at 192 (according to the FSM). I would start with the temp. sensor. I have not had to get one for the gauge, but the one that the ECU looks at is around $26, I don't imagine it being much more or less for the gauge sensor.

[ziggy682]

If your temp is shooting up to Hot, then cools down very quickly when you hit the heater, you have air in the system. I know it sounds crazy, but having a little air in there will cause exactly what you're describing. When the car is cool, pop the radiator cap, unscrew the radiator air bleed screw, and start the car. Let it run for a while, and keep topping the radiator off. Once it has run for a while put the screw back in, and the radiator cap back on. Just try this before you go replacing everything in your cooling system.

[Megaseth]

awesome. i had wondered if there was air in the system, infact that was one of the things i was going to check first. i'll also look into the sensor too, just to make sure its not doing anything funky. thanks guys.

[s13sr20chris]

air comes out better if you jack up the front end a little. i only do that when i really have to but it works.

[Megaseth]

well, i went out and checked it monday and it was pretty low. i guess i did have a big air pocket that was floating around. i filled it up and started it and let it warm up idling, and then revved it a little and i just checked it today and it seemed to be more than full. so i started it and drove it around the block and the temp gauge stayed right between the 2nd and 3rd little marks and when i stopped the car and opened the hood, the fan didnt seem to be pulling more air than when it was just sitting there, so i guess its running much cooler now. thanks for the help guys. i'll check it later to see if its still got air in there. hopefully, i'll be able to pass inspection tomorrow or friday with no problems.

[xatracing]

also check your rad cap- your symptoms are similar to when the insert goes bad. fyi