Damage at these temps?
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Damage at these temps?
My 78 f150 I purchased, the PO did not put a fan shroud on the truck (351m) although it does have a flex fan. It has been running fine at 190 but while snow plowing, the temps krept up to about 250. I shut the truck down, opened the hood and antifreeze was everywhere. The top seam of the radiator split. I'm guessing due to the low speeds, and the truck working hard (snowplowing), and with no shroud, temps rose enough to expand the radiator and split the seam. I am now in the process of getting a shroud and either getting the radiator fixed or replaced. My question is, do you think having the temps rise up to about 250 caused serious damage to the engine? The truck started up again fine after letting it cool.
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The T-stat is ONLY a switch that opens at a certain temp and stay opens after that.
You can have your home thermostat set at 73*F.
But The temperature in various places of your house can be higher or lower than that spot where your thermostat is mounted.
IMO, get rid of the flex fan and replace it with the 7 blade OEM clutch fan and install an electric fan if you are going to keep plowing.
You can have your home thermostat set at 73*F.
But The temperature in various places of your house can be higher or lower than that spot where your thermostat is mounted.
IMO, get rid of the flex fan and replace it with the 7 blade OEM clutch fan and install an electric fan if you are going to keep plowing.
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I would guess that it has a c6 Automatic? Probbably caused by high tranny temps. I see that all the time with our utility trucks when they are overloaded and going offroad. Ck your tranny fluid, probbably smells burned.
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At slow vehicle speeds the shroud and a good thermostatic clutch fan or even a fixed fan is required. A flex fan is not going to work at all in your situation. Totally the wrong solution. At speeds under ~40MPH the fan is the only thing pulling air thru the radiator. Without a shroud the fan just stirs up the air and does nothing. Air blows out the back side and curls around and enters the front side again. In low gears like you were probably using a flex fan flattens out, -very bad application. But then a flex fan does most things wrong. Get rid of the bogus flex fan.
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junk the flex-o-fan put a stock one on. give it a good flushin,and when plowing take a break her eand therewhen your plowing notice the snow goes up on the hood? well so does the air .if you take a break with the plow down or take her fir a ride with it up off the ground alittle she;ll cool back down.....
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Well I do have an oem clutch fan I pulled from a 79 bronco. I guess I could try putting that on when I put my new radiator and shroud in. I wanted to try just running a shroud with this flex fan but it sounds like even with a shroud it won't work well at slow speeds.
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all the stuff in my truck and the pullin i do, im running a stock fan. a matched set of belts deep grove pullys and no shroud and never had any problems. well i cant lie i tend to blow out heater cores after 5000 rpm
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At slow vehicle speeds you MUST have a shroud to get airflow thru the radiator. Otherwise the fan is doing nothing. Remember there is a big "object" behind the fan that just helps to direct the air back around to the front of the fan. The shroud cuts of this "reflow" so the fan pulls air thru the radiator. Those miniature aftermarket chrome fan shrouds or half shrouds don't work either. Racing is a whole different world from everyday driving or a working truck.
For the radiator to transfer heat to the air you must have airflow. Below ~40MPH the fan is responsible for pulling air thru the radiator. At higher speeds the vehicle motion forces air thru the radiator. Of course there is no real absolute number it is a gradual crossover. For slow speed high power applications like pushing snow a flex fan flattens out at the higher engine RPM's used in low gears cutting airflow just at the time it is needed most.
For the radiator to transfer heat to the air you must have airflow. Below ~40MPH the fan is responsible for pulling air thru the radiator. At higher speeds the vehicle motion forces air thru the radiator. Of course there is no real absolute number it is a gradual crossover. For slow speed high power applications like pushing snow a flex fan flattens out at the higher engine RPM's used in low gears cutting airflow just at the time it is needed most.
Last edited by Torque1st; Feb 26, 2007 at 09:56 PM.
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
Oil begins to break down at these temps also, resulting in bearing damage.
Seized lifters and pistons.
Oil is the only thing cooling the valvetrain. You wouldn't believe how hot valve springs get under normal conditions.
Again, it depends a lot on how long you ran it hot.
I would definitely do an oil change, preferably with a good synthetic.
Pete
Seized lifters and pistons.
Oil is the only thing cooling the valvetrain. You wouldn't believe how hot valve springs get under normal conditions.
Again, it depends a lot on how long you ran it hot.
I would definitely do an oil change, preferably with a good synthetic.
Pete
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From: Kiefer, Northeastern Okla
I run synthetics in all my vehicles (just a personal choice), both newer and old (over 100,000 mi.).
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...tic-blend.html
Pete
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...tic-blend.html
Pete
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From: Northeast Nebraska
I like to run my heater fan on high and open a window if I get too hot when I plow. Also make sure snow doesnt collect in your radiator and cause a blockage. Otherwise Im sure the engine is fine if it only hit that temp for 5 mins. Im on the fence with the whole synthetic deal and Im not a fan of Penzoil. The best thing you can do is change you oil on a regular basis. 2-3k miles.