overheating fe
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 83
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overheating fe
i have never had an overheating problem with an fe. however, a co-worker's 74 390 automatic f-100 and a good friend's 66 352 automatic f-100 are heating up at slower speeds this summer. can anyone that has had success fixing this problem help? is this problem more specific to the automatic trucks? tell me where to start.
j.frank
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
overheating fe
Hey J.Frank, where have you been hiding man? Long time no hear.
If the systems are free flowing (key word)the problem has to be with air flow. The only time that I have ever had with a FE has been on a long idle. I read an earlier post today of overheating engines, and the replier suggested air flow. Those electric fans sure seem to make a difference. I don't know how to size a setup, but I have idled my Taurus in hot summer for 90 min. (had someone stand me up that I had to have a signature)with the AC running and the temp guage never moved. My trucks in the pasted would start the guage moving up while running in for a Coke, or pumping gas, while the AC was running.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
If the systems are free flowing (key word)the problem has to be with air flow. The only time that I have ever had with a FE has been on a long idle. I read an earlier post today of overheating engines, and the replier suggested air flow. Those electric fans sure seem to make a difference. I don't know how to size a setup, but I have idled my Taurus in hot summer for 90 min. (had someone stand me up that I had to have a signature)with the AC running and the temp guage never moved. My trucks in the pasted would start the guage moving up while running in for a Coke, or pumping gas, while the AC was running.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Burke VA
overheating fe
I'm the lucky guy from the other post with the airflow problem. Mine is a factory set up (non-electric or clutch fan) w/ a much bigger radiator. would the factory build a cooling system that would let your car/truck idle all day long w/the outside temp in the 90's?
Jay
Jay
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
overheating fe
Jay, my above applies to your car as well. The system has to be free flowing. The inside could be gummed up and restricted. Does your fluid look like a fresh fill. If you use Prestone antifreeze the color should be green. I started a while back to use nothing but distilled water in my system, so that I wouldn't add minerals that could corrode or gum up the system. Distilled water at the grocery is pretty cheap too.
Yes, look at the police cars, they sit for long periods of time and not get hot. The one time that I sat in my car for 90 min. I watched the temp guage closely and it never budged. I don't remember the outside temp but it was summer HOT. I was surprised, worried, and pleased at the same time.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
Yes, look at the police cars, they sit for long periods of time and not get hot. The one time that I sat in my car for 90 min. I watched the temp guage closely and it never budged. I don't remember the outside temp but it was summer HOT. I was surprised, worried, and pleased at the same time.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
overheating fe
I think that if the problem is only at idle an electric fan would most definately fix that, or you could try a bigger fan. My 390 was starting to get hotter than it used to so I drained it out and flushed it with some prestone super flush, I took the lower hose off to let the big junk out and there was a bunch of rusty colered stuff in there, filled it with distilled water and prestone, and it works better than ever. I bet it could sit idleing for 90 minutes too, I have the biggest baddest fan I could find, I just wish it had a clutch because I bet it takes a lot of power to turn.
Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com
Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Burke VA
overheating fe
Mine overheats at idle, I have a clutch so I'll see if thatwill fit. When I bought the car the coolant was the color of mud. I have since drained and flushed the system, got rid of the thermostat, put a huge radiator in it and it still overheats at idle. I'll try a bigger fan but I still think there is something wrong w/the car. Bugs the crap out of me!
Jay
Jay
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
overheating fe
Jay put the thermostat back in, leaving it out wont make it run any cooler. You may need to have the system professionaly cleaned if it was gummed up. Look into a double electric fan before the clutch.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
John
jowilker@nc.freei.net
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
overheating fe
I have looked into an electric fan and they are just to expensive. I want to get a clutch it seems like the best idea, but what ones will fit? can I get one a junkyard? If you really dont want a thermostat, get some restrictor plates from Moroso, they sell a pack of different sizes for $6.
Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com
Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 903
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From: Banning CA
overheating fe
Since living in the desert of souther cal, and having trucks for many years, and FE back in the 70's I do know a little something about overheating and idleing. We are a towing company and many times at accidents or recovery work the truck idles for long periods. We found that a large capicity radiator with a thermal heavyduty fan clutch alway worked fine. When you get the clutch, make sure it is a heavy duty, they are somewhat thicker than a standard clutch. As long as your radiator is not plugged up it will keep cool even in extreme temps
Dave
http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html
Dave
http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Dalzell
overheating fe
Ive had pretty good luck with my setup from the junk yard. I got mine out of a 88 t-bird turbo coupe. It is a dual fan setup in both location of the existing radiator one fan on the upper return and one fan on the bottom inlet. It cools great. I bought a thermal temperature control module from advance auto for about $17 which you can control how hot or how cool you want to run. My temperature...no matter how long i sit or how hard i run the truck, doesnt get off 200. It takes a while for the temp to get up there, but it stays there. Of course, like the other people have said, electric fans are as only good as how clean your radiator and existing water jackets are. I have a new radiator, waterpump, heater core, and bypass hoses and dont have a problem.
Hootie65
Hootie65
New User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
overheating fe
i noticed you said you got rid of the thermostat ? i dont know for sure but i have heard that running without one will let the coolant flow through the radiator too fast and that it dosent cool as well as it would with a thermostat to slow it down