Summer Overheating

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May 22, 2006 | 10:20 AM

rabbitearscarver

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New User

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 9

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From: Steamboat Springs, CO

Summer Overheating

Hi, All - I'm overheating my FE 390 when I'm in summertime parades. All the idling and even lugging the engine trying to go so excruciatingly slow. Juuust a little embarrasing pulling over with steam pouring out of the engine bay, coolant pooling all over with dogs wanting to lap it up... Not good.
So I think Ill install an aftermarket electric fan. Any recommendations / tips / other ideas?
Thanks -

May 22, 2006 | 12:13 PM

bertha66

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 8,062

Likes: 35

From: Central Oregon

I run a 5 blade stock Ford fan and a 180 t-stat with a new radiator, no over heating, even at idle.

May 22, 2006 | 01:04 PM

NeilK

Junior User

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 54

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I seem to have the same problem, I am running a 460 cross flow radiator shroud and a six blade fan. It only seems to be a problem when idling. I was thinking about speeding my water pump up, let me know if that electric fan fixes it....Neil

May 22, 2006 | 01:18 PM

mswift

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 457

Likes: 0

If you don't have one on already, get a fan shroud on that thing. It helps out dramatically. Also, see if you can't get that fan closer to the radiator. They've got different size offset hubs, to get that fan closer.

Other than that, make sure she flushed good and you have a 4 core in er. T-stat is only a couple bucks, replace old with new 180d. Be a good idea to get yerself a 5 blade flex, if you don't already have one...

May 22, 2006 | 04:56 PM

73F100*8Mile

Posting Guru

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,036

Likes: 1

From: NE Ga

Look in summit for the waterpump impeller plate. I put that on my 390 and it takes forever to warm up and stays right with the thermostat. All you do is remove the waterpump, unbolt the back cover, and rivet the plate onto the back of the impeller. Works great.

May 22, 2006 | 07:09 PM

NeilK

Junior User

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 54

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I am ordering one right now part no. BRA-4500-06 thanks, I didn't even know they existed....Neil

May 22, 2006 | 08:14 PM

76 F-150 390FE

Posting Guru

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 1,113

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From: the side of a mountain

my truck over heated sitting ideling inline for the mud pit this weekend and when i got pulled out people were saying that i blew my raidiator but it was just pissing coolant out all over the place from the overflow hose. i have a 6 blade fan and no fan shroud.

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May 23, 2006 | 04:21 PM

averagef250

Elder User

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 794

Likes: 1

From: Portland, OR

The factory super cool radiator beats the heck out of any aftermarket 4 core jobber you'll find. I run a 5 blade flexalite thermal clutch fan and factory shroud on a supercool with 195 stat and it comes right up to 195 and stays there no matter what. The hotter thermostat temp is much better on an engine. 180 is too cold for daily driving. A different lower thermostat temp is just going to make the radiator work harder in the summer and your heater work worse in the winter and wear out your engine quicker.

The stock water pump moves plenty of coolant. What good does it do to have an engine take forever to heat up? The faster an engine reaches operating temp the better. My truck gets 10 MPG on the freeway below 190 degrees when the ecu is running cold enrichment to make it run correctly. At 195 it gets 15-17.

195 is not very hot. That's what came factory in most vehicles and for good reason.