Posted by Gypsy Jim (IP: 24.4.252.68) on January 15, 2000 at 21:01:45:
In Reply to: proper temp? posted by Erik on January 14, 2000 at 20:46:35:
Have you checked/replaced the radiator cap?
If the metal gasket of the cap is cracked or the cap is worn out, your cooling system won't hold any pressure. Without pressure in the cooling system, your engine will run very hot. This is because the coolant will boil at a lower temperature, thereby minimizing it's ability to absorb heat around the cylinder walls.
Most people don't realize this, so when their car starts to run hot, they pull over to the side of the road to check and/or add water to the radiator. When they carefully remove the cap the coolant starts to boil over - due to the lower presure in the system. With the reduction in coolant system pressure, what they've done is all but make sure that the car will continue to overheat.
Put a 50-50 coolant mixture in the car and a new 7 lb. cap. After doing this, if she still runs hot, you have blockage somewhere in the system.