[OFB Cafe] Engine overheating

[Peter Hollings]

I think the fan clutch is a better explanation. Also, it is cheaper.

Peter

Rick Bowers wrote:
> At Tuesday 7/15/2008 07:47, you wrote:
>   
>> Rick --
>>
>> I had those symptoms once. The problem was that one of the cylinders had
>> much lower compression. At idle that cylinder wasn't doing any effective
>> work and was a load on the others.  Other symptoms were a rough idle and
>> high (unburned) hydrocarbons on an emissions test. I got rid of the car.
>> (I had bought it used. The prior owner must have had a low oil or
>> overheating event.)
>>
>> Peter Hollings
>>     
>
> I've checked the cylinder compression. there are two that are low, 
> but not REAL low.
> I have a smooth idle, and it passed MA emissions testing in march.
>
> Thanks for the input, though.
>
> Now, if I could get my da*n motorcycle running ...
>
> ~Rick
>
>
>   
>> Rick Bowers wrote:
>>     
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Here is a "technical" question for the Cafe, even though it's not the
>>> Truck Stop Cafe. ;-)
>>>
>>> For the past several months, more frequently now that the weather is
>>> hot, the engine in my Durango has been overheating.
>>> It actually started last year, then stopped in the fall as the
>>> temperatures dropped. It hasn't overheated again until the weather
>>> recently got hot. Even when stopped at lights for extended periods.
>>>
>>> Here are the symptoms:
>>>
>>> - I can drive at highway speeds all day and the temperature stays normal
>>> - If I get off the highway, or slow down due to heavy traffic, the
>>> temperature soars.
>>> - If I get back above about 40 - 50mph, it cools back down.
>>>
>>> Here is an example. I drive home from Cape Cod, about 90 miles. The
>>> engine is running at normal temperature.
>>> I get off at my exit and drive about 1.5 miles on 30 mph roads with a
>>> few stop lights.
>>> When I arrive home, the temperature gauge is pegged in the red, the
>>> radiator is bubbling, and the overflow is dumping anti-freeze.
>>>
>>> When things cool down, I check the radiator levels. It's full.
>>> This weekend I flushed everything as best as I could and put in new
>>> antifreeze. When I drained it, the initial drainage was almost black
>>> and as thick as oil. Ughh. But that was just in the bottom because
>>> shortly after it turned liquid and just brown. It did need a change.
>>>
>>> After the flush and fill -- same problem. It still overheats at slow
>>> speeds/stopped.
>>>
>>> During the flushing, I put the water hose into the return (water pump
>>> to radiator) hose and pushed water back through the water
>>> pump,  through the block and out the radiator drain.
>>> I ran it until the water was clear. I also ran the motor to heat it
>>> enough to (I think) open the thermostat first.
>>>
>>> I don't suspect the thermostat -- it runs normal at highway speeds.
>>> I do suspect the fan clutch. During my flush/fill session, it
>>> appeared the fan was turning slowly, so I used a piece of 2x4 and was
>>> able to stop it. I could hold it still with my hands while the engine
>>> was idling with little resistance. The fan clutch was replaced about
>>> 2 years ago by an unscrupulous mechanic, It may be defective. But the
>>> local CAP auto parts guy says "no" (even though he could have sold me
>>> a new one for about $125).
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this mailinglist are the personal
>>> opinions of the author and do not represent those of Open for Business.
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> OfB Cafe - Cafe at ofb.biz
>> Brought to you by your friends at Open for Business.
>> http://ofb.biz/mailman/listinfo/cafe_ofb.biz
>>
>> DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this mailinglist are the personal
>> opinions of the author and do not represent those of Open for Business.
>>     
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OfB Cafe - Cafe at ofb.biz
> Brought to you by your friends at Open for Business.
> http://ofb.biz/mailman/listinfo/cafe_ofb.biz
>
> DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this mailinglist are the personal
> opinions of the author and do not represent those of Open for Business.
>
>