temp surge
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temp surge
First of all I'm new to the forum. Now the problem. I have a 95 f150 with a 5.0. Truck is over heating on accelaration, but when sitting at idle it does fine. Temp guage will rise then drop. The truck is actually overheating not just an indicator problem. it seems to run fine though. I have pulled the radiator and water pump. Pump seems to turn ok. Radiator doesn't seem restricted but I am having it pressure checked tomorrow. Thermostat has been checked and worked as advertised. Any ideas?? I appreciate the input.
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maybe?
Thanks for the welcome. tewfer, as far as the timing goes, the truck idles fine and steady and the truck accelerates as it should. the truck runs fine. do you think it could be a head gasket leaking once the temp rises.
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The truck would idle very nicely, and have very nice acceleration if timed too far advance, but usually has some pinging associated with that. I don't think the temperature would rise significantly due to timing, however, especially without pinging. You've already replaced the water pump. Pressure testing the rad will show you if it's leaking, but won't really tell you if it's restricted. It may not be plugged totally up, but could very well have enough restriction to cause the heating problems. Been there, done that, with an '86 T-Bird. First one plugged up, second went on this past weekend due to leaks at one end.
One question: Does your '95 have aluminum heads? Some folks don't realize they need to be careful about what coolant they use, especially when you involve dissimilar metals. You have the ferrous (iron) metal in the block, aluminum in the heads, and then zinc/copper (brass) in the radiator. Put in the right solution (or wrong as the case may be), and you have a really nice very low voltage battery, which will sit and corrode itself. Some coolants are advertised for their "anti-sludging" and "cleaning" qualities, and some folks just don't get that the really great cleaning capabilities of some coolants are DEADLY to some cooling systems. I digress, but to shorten up an otherwise lengthy reply, the only way you're gonna know for sure if the radiator's obstructed is to pull one end off and rod it. Point blank, this will probably cost more than a new or reman radiator. Just because it's stopped up, doesn't mean it will leak. Just because it leaks, doesn't mean it isn't cooling. Unless I'm mistaken, doesn't the '95 have composite plastic headers on the radiator? My '92 does, so my guess would be they never went back to brass ends on 'em. But, the core will still be brass or aluminum. Coolant should be selected for the application. Saturn recalled nearly 16000 vehicles in the second year of production due to improper coolant installation at the factory. If the heads are iron, the block is iron, and the core of the rad is brass, that's the most forgiving combination. A lil' rust inhibitor is about all that's needed. Throw aluminum into the picture, though, then a whole new game begins.
One question: Does your '95 have aluminum heads? Some folks don't realize they need to be careful about what coolant they use, especially when you involve dissimilar metals. You have the ferrous (iron) metal in the block, aluminum in the heads, and then zinc/copper (brass) in the radiator. Put in the right solution (or wrong as the case may be), and you have a really nice very low voltage battery, which will sit and corrode itself. Some coolants are advertised for their "anti-sludging" and "cleaning" qualities, and some folks just don't get that the really great cleaning capabilities of some coolants are DEADLY to some cooling systems. I digress, but to shorten up an otherwise lengthy reply, the only way you're gonna know for sure if the radiator's obstructed is to pull one end off and rod it. Point blank, this will probably cost more than a new or reman radiator. Just because it's stopped up, doesn't mean it will leak. Just because it leaks, doesn't mean it isn't cooling. Unless I'm mistaken, doesn't the '95 have composite plastic headers on the radiator? My '92 does, so my guess would be they never went back to brass ends on 'em. But, the core will still be brass or aluminum. Coolant should be selected for the application. Saturn recalled nearly 16000 vehicles in the second year of production due to improper coolant installation at the factory. If the heads are iron, the block is iron, and the core of the rad is brass, that's the most forgiving combination. A lil' rust inhibitor is about all that's needed. Throw aluminum into the picture, though, then a whole new game begins.
