Overheating 87 f150

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Sep 17, 2005 | 07:34 PM

blindlightguy

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Overheating 87 f150

My recently aquired f150 with the inline six seems to always run pretty hot acording to the factory gauges. I drove it from New York to Iowa full of stuff and it only boiled over once but it was close a number of other times. I flushed once by myself and replaced the thermostate, and the radiator cap for good mesure. But it doesn't seem to be any better. It generally doesn't leak much and it really takes like 45 minuets to an hour of highway driving for it to cause real problems. I have been thinking about a new radiator or about putting in an after market thermometer to see what the actual temperture is. On a side note if it helps the oil pressure seems to be pretty low acording to the gauge when it warms up. Any advice on this would be apreciated.

Blindlightguy

Sep 17, 2005 | 08:08 PM

Popa Tim

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From: Central NY

Well if its boiling over when the gauge says its really hot then I would think the gauge is working fairly well.
What temp t-stat did you put in?
Have you set base timing on the engine?
You said it doesn't leak much, where is it leaking at? The waterpump?

Welcome to Ford-Trucks too!!!

Popa Tim

Sep 17, 2005 | 08:20 PM

blindlightguy

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I put in a 180 degree thermostate b/c that seems to be standard. As for the leaking it only really leaks when I get it really hot and then it some times will leak from the edges of the radiator. Which is one of the reasons I was thinking about a new radiotor. It also seems to loose some coolant, not much but some, after running it real hot for awile. Which leads me to believe it is leaking then, while driving.

Blindlightguy

Sep 17, 2005 | 08:21 PM

blindlightguy

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Oh yeah, and as for the timing I haven't. Which is confusing to me because there is a sticker on the front of the grill that says their is no timing adjustment or something like that.

Blindlightguy

Sep 17, 2005 | 09:07 PM

Popa Tim

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The base timing of 10 degrees can be set, the computer handles all the adjustments after that. You need to remove the SPOUT connector before starting the engine to set base. I think its near the dist on an 87. Please search, i'm sure this has been posted before.

and yes, if the radiator is leaking then it probably can't hold pressure either.

Cheers,
popa Tim

Sep 17, 2005 | 09:48 PM

MRL123

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From: Wetaskiwin, Alberta

I'm pretty sure that you are due for a new radiator. If it's leaking at the side seams then it has pretty much gone as far as it will carry you. You can take the rad to a local rad house and have them pressure test and rebuild your current rad or you can go with an aftermarket one - whatever your wallet will handle. Personally, I have had good luck with the jobber ones from the aftermarket. I think that a 180 deg. t-stat is a little cold for your motor - I could be wrong on that so check your manual or Haynes/Chiltons books. I know that my 5.0 calls for a 195 deg. so that's what I use. The cooler t-stats may provide better engine performance though so YMMV.

You can defninitely adjust your timing - it should be 10 deg. - don't forget to pull the spout connector when you time it and then don't forget to plug it back in after your done.

Cheers!

Mike

Sep 18, 2005 | 09:54 PM

blindlightguy

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Is there a good guide somewhere to adjusting the timing on this particular truck? I haven't done a timing adjustment in a long time or by myself. Assuming that doesn't fix my problem is there anywhere or anything anyone would recommend in buying a new radiator to put in my self? Another thought I have had was removing the radiator for the air conditioner I don't use, but that seems like a temporary fix to my problem.

<o