Running Hot

Twister · Mar 20, 2010

Ok, so i have an 85 B2. It started to run hot about 2 months ago and i have been trying to fix the problem.

I have replaced the fan clutch, water pump, t-stat and all the belts with no results.

So do you think i should get a new rad?

And how hard is it to put the 4L one from the xpolder in my B2?

thanks

lil_Blue_Ford · Mar 20, 2010

Sure it doesn't have a cracked head? Or a coolant leak somewhere?

My choptop had a coolant leak from the heater core, but it was strangely leaking outside of the cab a the firewall, which made it a bit difficult to discover. I managed to crack a head in the process of going nuts looking for the leak.

Of course, if you have the 2.8, you probably haven't cracked a head.

If you have the 2.8L, I have no idea as to if the rad out of a 4.0L will fit fine or not. If it's a 2.9l motor, then the 4.0L rad is a drop-in swap, but you may have to change the lower water hose.

a 4.0l swap on a first gen BII is not exactly easy. I started one in my 88 a couple years ago and never finished because I ended up in wiring hell. I couldn't find the wiring diagrams I needed to finish it. Of course, if you're not opposed to swapping to a newer dash, it would be considerably easier, there would be very few wires to be spliced and all in areas where it's not hard to get the wiring info.

adsm08 · Mar 20, 2010

How much coolant is in it?

Are you sure you aren't leaking?

What is the condition of the coolant?

If all coolant conditions are ok, when was the last time the carb was checked/adjusted?

A lean condition can cause the engine to run hot.

I know the 2.8 has an electronic feedback carb, but I'd guess it still has some sort of adjustment. I'd try to richen it up a bit.

Twister · Mar 20, 2010

Well i have the 2.8, and have no idea as to ho to check if i have a cracked head.

My lower rad hose was leaking like crazy but i fixed it awhile ago. On the out side that's the only leak i had. I dont seem to be losing any coolant.

With the carb thing, how can i tell if i am running lean or not, and if i am how do i adjust it?

I am running out of things to replace with the coolant system, about the only things i havent replaced are the heater core and the rad. I have flushed both of those fairly well in the past month.

I am stumped. :icon_confused:

Robert_1967 · Mar 21, 2010

my guess would be a cracked head or bad head gasket.

look for water in the oil, and oil in the water, also if it blows bubbles when running and the rad cap is off.

Robert

adsm08 · Mar 21, 2010

You can also pull plugs and look for one that looks steam-cleaned. If it's cracked and leaking into a cylinder it will steam clean the plugs when they fire off the fuel.

Twister · Mar 21, 2010

Robert_1967 said:
my guess would be a cracked head or bad head gasket.

look for water in the oil, and oil in the water, also if it blows bubbles when running and the rad cap is off.

Robert

The rad will blow bubbles?

kimcrwbr1 · Mar 21, 2010

When you flushed the readiator did you back flush it disconnect both hoses plug the lower one and run the hose full blast if you have a long hose crimp it to get the most pressure you can also fill the radiator with easy off oven cleaner let it set a few minutes the flush it good do that both ways a couple of times probably better to take it out for that and be careful as you know it burns especially the eyes.

adsm08 · Mar 21, 2010

Twister said:
The rad will blow bubbles?

when you take the cap off you will see little bubbles coming to the surface because a cracked head or gasket will allow gases from the cylinder into the cooling system and then they come out at the cap.

Robert_1967 · Mar 21, 2010

adsm08 said:
when you take the cap off you will see little bubbles coming to the surface because a cracked head or gasket will allow gases from the cylinder into the cooling system and then they come out at the cap.

Thank you

Robert

Twister · Mar 21, 2010

Well i drove it till it hit the bottom of the R in Norm, i took the cap off and i did not see any bubbles. I gave it a little gas after i checked it with the cap off and still no bubbles.

Also what would cause your car to raise in temp in you turn the heat on. I was driving it and it hit the N in Norm, so i decided to kick the heat on and it went up faster. :dunno:

adsm08 · Mar 21, 2010

Suspension of the normal operation of the laws of physics? :icon_confused:

Robert_1967 · Mar 21, 2010

only thing I can think of if you don't have a cracked head or blowhead gasket, is that the engine block might need a good cleaning in the water passages, also you might want to try seeing if maybe there was air pockets that was causing you to think it was over heating.

Robert

Twister · Mar 21, 2010

Well it is not overheating, just running really really hot. I was planning on getting a explorer rad.

Would i just hose out the water passages in the engine?

Robert_1967 · Mar 21, 2010

you would have to get some engine flush to clean out the water passages in the engine, also try changeing the t-sat, or removing it and see if it runs cooler

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