The big chill

[lincster2]

Ha caught your attention....

With temperatures being cold we hardly think about engine cooling but come a few months we're going to be back in the hot stuff. Was thinking of ways to keep the temp gauge from entering the danger zone...

A... removing the little "fishtanks" on the inboard side of the headlights... do you think it would improve cooling?

B... placing some sort of cover between bumper & bottom of radiator... any thoughts?

Have already installed a larger thicker "desert" radiator. Any thoughts welcomed.

 

[SHOtime2511]

If your car is just a DD and all your cooling system components are in good working condition you should not have any issues with over heating.

 

[oneqwicksho]

If your car is just a DD and all your cooling system components are in good working condition you should not have any issues with over heating.

That's true. Mine is a DD and I put a dual core radiator in just for that little extra and I love it

 

[rubydist]

B... placing some sort of cover between bumper & bottom of radiator... any thoughts?

this would be a very bad idea because much of the cooling air that flows through the radiator comes from under the front bumper cover, so your idea would actually block off much of the cooling air.

 

[jayro]

Perhaps a colder thermostat and programing the fan to come on a little sooner. Looks like your in Nevada....I would think that would put more strain on the cooling system. Have you tried adding anything like Water Wetter? You could also check and clean out the A/C condenser coil that sits in front of the radiator to optimize air flow.

 

[hawkeye18]

If your radiator is more than 5 years old, replace it. You'd be amazed at the amount of crap that builds up in there.

If your AC Condenser is more than 8-10 years old, remove the radiator and blow it out from the back with condensed air. Or, replace it (although that is a lot more involved because of draining/refilling the AC system). You'd be amazed at how much air flow a bunch of crap in the fins can block.

 

[somedude_001]

if you don't track your sho then a stock system is fine assuming it works properly. I have been tracking my bone stock 1990 SHO for about 3 years now and have not had any issues other than brakes cooking. I don't have a oil temp gauge so god only knows how hot that get on the track.

 

[lincster2]

ideas galore

Thanks for all the input... all really good, sound ideas. What is water wetter?

 

[rubydist]

water wetter makes the surface tension of the water lower so it transfers heat better from/to the metal parts that it contacts.

 

[jayro]

Thanks for all the input... all really good, sound ideas. What is water wetter?

You can pick it up (or something like it) at your local auto parts store. Like stated, it improves heat transfer and allows your cooling system to work more efficiently. I think it prefers that you run it with mostly water though. Something about antifreeze reduces it effectiveness.

 

[firebat45]

Perhaps a colder thermostat and programing the fan to come on a little sooner.

The engine (like almost any other engine) works best at a certain temperature, and trying to use a 160 degree thermostat or the like is not going to help anything. Letting the engine warm up to the proper temperature is fine, it's keeping it there that the OP should be concerned with.

Not that I think the stock setup has any problems for a DD SHO, but trying to increase the cooling capacity and trying to decrease the engine operating temperature are two very different things.

 

[lincster2]

Cooler temps..

Recently installed a new heater core (what a pain in the a$$ that was) and the temperature in the cooling system dropped quite a bit. Even with current cool weather, before the R & R the temps were running on the high side of the gauge near the N or O markings (gen 2) now after the R & R the thing stays near the R marking. I guess the extra added capacity of hoses & heater core makes a slight amount of difference. When using the heater it dropps down to M marking... right in the middle.
Maybe I was just a bit "****" about this temp thing but when you see the gauge shoot up to the high side & it's only 50 degrees out ...I just freaked a little bit

 

[luigisho]

There is reason for concern if you repaired or replaced something and changed the temp reading. I have the same problem in my GenIII in warmer weather. I still have to tear into it when the weather breaks in spring. Driving with the heat on in the summer ain't fun.

 

[pjtoledo]

F Y I, coolant always flows thru the heater core. Regulating the air flow thru the heater core is what changes the temperature in the heating system.

 

[TopGunnYFZ]

I wired in a bypass to both the fans on my Atx. I can kick them both on highspeed and within minutes it drops temps on those warm slow moving days.