Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585730
12/01/18 04:55 PM
12/01/18 04:55 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
|
replace the freeze plugs while the coolant is down then button everything back up & take it out & run it. if it starts to overheat before you get up to "speed" pull over & let it cool then continue on. How hot is it getting? confirmed with an accurate gauge or there is no doubt that it is running hot? You said you ain't driven it cuz it is overheating at idle, more info, has it always been like this since you acquired it? #1 what do you have for fan (fixed or clutch)/shroud/fan fore/aft spacing. Your pump is good the rad sounds likely (maybe) good, you replaced the stat & I'll assume it is good (& yes you want an 180 or higher). I'd want at least 15 initial (what do you have?). way less likely is a vac leak & block could be crudded up & a person could pull the freeze plugs & car wash wand blast it out (trailer it to/from) but I would definitely not bother cuz if it is OK at speed then the prob is elsewhere. Short version: if the initial is adequate (& I'm assuming that it is) then IMNHO: radiator/air speed/water speed, in that order. EDIT What Savoy64 said, you can get a "tank valve" from O'reillys for less than $3 & screw it into the coolant temp sensor port (1/8" NPT) & pump it up to 10 lbs & see if it holds. With your tire psi gauge in hand hit the fitting with your air chuck for a split second at a time cuz with coolant in there & little dead air space it will reach 10 psi FAST. You can also put a psi gauge on that port & start it & see if it jumps up somewhat high fairly quick which it will if combustion is leaking into the coolant. Those cheap psi gauges are about $5
Last edited by RapidRobert; 12/01/18 05:06 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585754
12/01/18 05:40 PM
12/01/18 05:40 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
|
About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
|
An 89 318 is not a magnum engine.
When you say overheating how did you decide that? Does it puke coolant? Or is the dash gauge what you are going by? Or do you have another temp measure device you are using?
Overheating at slow or no vehicle speeds are usually airflow related. Fan clutch, wrong (CCW) fan, gunk in the condenser or radiator, or both. No shroud. Idle is when the engine is least stressed so it is not making as much heat.
I'd double check the cam timing because someone has been in there. Replace all the freeze plus because it one or two are weeping they all will be soon. Put it together, get it running check timing (retarded can cause overheating), look for vacuum leaks (lean can cause overheating) and see what you have.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585789
12/01/18 07:14 PM
12/01/18 07:14 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 710 St Louis, MO 63026
convx4
OP
super stock
|
OP
super stock
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 710
St Louis, MO 63026
|
Correct not a magnum, a LA roller. The over heating (Boiling over) is after I pull the truck out of the barn and let it idle.
I forgot to mention that this is a Shelby Dakota, it has two 11" electric pusher fans. They both work as should.
Timing is controlled by the computer. The distributor(thing) is set with an initial timing of 10 degrees.
The few times I have driven it the temp would creep up when at a stop.
Last edited by convx4; 12/01/18 07:21 PM.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585795
12/01/18 07:32 PM
12/01/18 07:32 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
|
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931
Central Florida
|
Is there a catalytic converter on the truck still? If so have you checked to see if the exhaust is so clogged it's overheating the engine. I've known it to happen.
I'm assuming you have watched to see if clutch fan is operating properly, otherwise good suggestions from RapidRobert and SuperCuda.
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585809
12/01/18 08:06 PM
12/01/18 08:06 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
|
The over heating (Boiling over) is after I pull the truck out of the barn and let it idle. The few times I have driven it the temp would creep up when at a stop. At idle how many minutes till it is boiling? It kinda sounds like airflow except for the fact that it sounds like it is boiling over QUICKLY at idle (plus 10 initial ain't much) but I cant say if that is a problem or not. More just thinking out loud.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585819
12/01/18 08:51 PM
12/01/18 08:51 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
|
About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
|
The 89 Shelby Dakota had no mech fan, too tight to fit. I would make sure the fans are blowing the correct direction. A piece of paper hung in front pof each one in turn will easily verify that. Temp creeping up at a stop tends to verify an airflow problem. I don't know how sensitive the Dak is to air dam presence, some vehicles will not properly cool if the air dam below the radiator support is missing.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585855
12/01/18 10:19 PM
12/01/18 10:19 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
|
5- 10 minuets and it would over heat by boiling out of the overflow. 5-10M from dead cold? To me that sounds like something way more serious than (lack of) air flow.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: savoy64]
#2585859
12/01/18 10:28 PM
12/01/18 10:28 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 710 St Louis, MO 63026
convx4
OP
super stock
|
OP
super stock
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 710
St Louis, MO 63026
|
boiling out the overflow is a head gasket leak--or a cracked head----there is test for it... I was afraid of that.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: savoy64]
#2585860
12/01/18 10:29 PM
12/01/18 10:29 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
|
Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
|
^^^ that's what I was thinking. If there is an emissions testing stn closeby you could ask em to stick the probe in the air space below the coolant level & it'll register any hydrocarbons. Easier, I would get the O'reillys $3 fitting & pump it up to 10 psi and or the cheap psi gauge. EDIT meant to say above the coolant level!
Last edited by RapidRobert; 12/02/18 02:36 AM. Reason: missed something
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2585875
12/01/18 11:13 PM
12/01/18 11:13 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
|
About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
|
Yeah, that quick a puke out the overflow isn't overheating, it's something else. A quick look at teh plugs might narrow down the cylinder.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
|
|
|
Re: 1989 318 overheating at idle
[Re: convx4]
#2586109
12/02/18 02:05 PM
12/02/18 02:05 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931 Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
|
Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,931
Central Florida
|
I think today's plan is a good one. Good luck and keep us posted please.
Facts are stubborn things.
|
|
|
|
|