overheating at idle
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2013
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overheating at idle
77 f150 ranger xlt with a freshly rebuilt 460, c6 trans, 4wd, electric fan, new shroud. Its overheating at idle, when I'm driving it sits at about 180-200 but as soon as I stop at a long light, or if I let it idle like if someone is looking at it or anything it starts creeping up almost instantly. I put some water cooler additive in it that someone local said to try and it didn't make any noticeable difference. Anyone know what else to try? High pressure water pump or something?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: south east kansas
what is your cuurent weather like, and whats the thermostat rated at might not be opening( could be getting cloged up- not likely), high flow water pump may help, take a hose and spray the fins on the radiator( through the grill or in the engine compartment dirt may be in there), are your valves burnt, when was your last rebuild on the engine itsself. are you useing the stock fan wiht the electric or just the electric?
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2013
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what is your cuurent weather like, and whats the thermostat rated at might not be opening( could be getting cloged up- not likely), high flow water pump may help, take a hose and spray the fins on the radiator( through the grill or in the engine compartment dirt may be in there), are your valves burnt, when was your last rebuild on the engine itsself. are you useing the stock fan wiht the electric or just the electric?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: south east kansas
yeah other than that i dunno what you could try to me that is the basic list of things to check. on the question of the electric fan( for me personally) how well do they work and what size is yours?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: south east kansas
another thing i thought about, is the water pump the stock factory one or is it a newer replacement, some old types were low flow and some high flow( dont hold me to this ), most new are high flow
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
200° or even 210° isn't overheating per se... what temp does it climb to when just idling in place for an extended period of time with just the mechanical fan?
And your reading the temp from an actual gauge, right? Not the factory guesstimate gauge?
And your reading the temp from an actual gauge, right? Not the factory guesstimate gauge?
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Postmaster
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I don't believe you posted fan type. Cool running and hot idling often means inadequate fan air flow. Common after market fans often do not provide the air flow needed at idle. OE type fans, used or re-pop are best. I understand the MK IV or Taurus fans work well... though the mechanical fan + clutch works pretty well in my application. A higher capacity radiator always helps... but may not be the problem in your application.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2015
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From: Vidalia onion,GA
What condition is the rad in? Has it been flushed lately? Have any pictures of your fan/shroud setup?
What all ,if anything else is wired in with your electric fan that might be stealing juice?
Timing set correctly?
What all ,if anything else is wired in with your electric fan that might be stealing juice?
Timing set correctly?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,259
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From: Pryor, OK
This is what I recommend- start by reinstalling a new thermostat and put the mechanical fan back in. This way you can narrow it down to either the electric fan not being big enough or it's a pump problem. Reguardless of weather, that 460 needs a thermostat. Just because an electric fan pulls 3000cfm doesn't mean that it's enough to cool 500 ponies. If the engine is high horse power, consider an aluminum radiator. I see guys all the time throw 5-7000 dollars at an engine and run a stock 2 core radiator and wonder why coolant is boiling out the rad.
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