car runs hot, recently overheated, new rad (and a story)

[SHOslamwagon]

im pretty sure i just need a new water pump but how does a water pump 'go bad' im in Canada and the shops seem to think a 3.2 water pump doesn't exist, the 3.0 does and it $120 which i think is crazy, i can grab one from one of the mailorders, but i was thinking i could rebuild mine?


now for the story:
i knew my coolant system was leaking and i thought i was keeping an eye on it, obviously not. i was going down the highway with the windows down (no a/c) and i heard a hissing noise, thought it was another car until i looked at my guages, temp was just about the red zone, sooo slowed down abit but kept going, temp was now fluctuating between n and red square, then i decided enough was enough and went to get off the highway, as i did so power seemed to disapear and strange hissing/mtealic grinding noise came about, so i shut the car off and coasted as far as i could (im not sure about this part but it almost seemed the car shut itself off when i took my foot right off the gas).
filled it back up with water and a can of sealent and got it home the next day, ran hot but never went above the N or normal, no funny noises or vibrations.
i had spare rad so i replaced that (one of the plastic tanks split on the old one) i also flushed the system till just clean clear water came out.


So now the car runs around the O part of normal (although is about 45 C outside with humidity) and i feel thats a bit high so i figured a new water pump would fix it. however, now this mite just be in my head, buuut it seems oil pressure is higher than normal by 4-10 psi depending on engine temp.
So im hoping a new water pump will solve the temp issue and an oil change to fix the psi problem.

 

[Phoenix]

Shop at rockauto.com , either that or pickup the part numbers on rockauto and call your local parts store with the numbers NOT the car.

 

[sperold]

Start with the thermostat and change it.
Did your old rad have issues, are the fins still attached to the tubes, is it the one with the plastic tank split?
Usually if the pump fails you can wiggle the snout as the bearings are loose. Impellers coming off the shaft are very rare events, so you pump may be OK. Usually the pumps fail by leaking past the packing, they don't usually go bad the way you are thinking. These engines run best right about where your needle is indicating now. You may want to just keep an eye on it for awhile and if you are suspecious something isn't right, then put in a new 195 thermostat.

 

[itwonder]

Replace radiator cap with new Motorcraft. Pressure test cooling system.

 

[SHOslamwagon]

my old rad was royally toasted, i had previously crushed the bottom 3 rows of fins together by accidentally jacking the car in the wrong place, and ya the plastic tank on the drain side split, so the weird sound i heard i think was just ultra hot pressurized water going everywhere.

i did check the thermostat, it seemed like it was in working order, i pushed on it and it moved freely, i re-installed it with the hole down, is that upside down maybe?

a rad cap sounds inexpensive enough i can try one of those aswell, this rad has been sitting around dry for a year or 2.

i swear the car used to run around the RM part of normal, but then again i cant remember the last time it was this hot and humid.

 

[sperold]

It will probably go back to the RM part of normal when you get rid of your 35 degree Celsius heat wave temperatures.
Give it a week or two and you will need the heater again.

 

[frosho]

i did check the thermostat, it seemed like it was in working order, i pushed on it and it moved freely, i re-installed it with the hole down, is that upside down maybe?

Yes, that's upside down. You want the hole on the top side - it's there to let air bubbles through.

Part of your problem might be air pockets in the system. I'd take the thermostat back out and install it the right way. Then you can refill it and try to get all the air out. It may help to give the upper radiator hose a few squeezes while the engine is running. Just don't burn yourself.