2.3L ('83-'97) Lima over heating, help diagnosing please!

[96splash!]

Hey guys, I have a 96 Lima, I've the the thermostat, t stat housing, water pump, fan clutch, replaced the coolant and the sensor on the t stat housing. Truck still runs HOT. I have to keep the heater on full blast to keep it about half way up the gauge. But if I go much past 65mph the temp gauge climbs.

Runs fine, good gas milage, heater will chase you outta the cab. Any ideas?

 

[pentode]

Has the truck ever had stop leak in it? I had a similar problem once on a Subaru where the stop leak had coated every tube in the radiator to the point where the flow was practically cut off. If you don’t come up with a better theory, you might test the rad with a garden hose and see if it’s flowing properly.

 

[96splash!]

I wish I had an answer to that. Ive only had the truck a little over a year. Considering the lack of proper maintenance from the previous owners ID say it's likely that stop leak was used.

Thank you, I'll check it out.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Screams radiator to me with all that...

My '97 I have to plug off 2/3 of the radiator to get 1/3 up the gauge under 50F outside temperature to get any heat output...

 

[superj]

i had an old chevy truck running a 305 that would do the same thing if i tried to tow anything over 50mph. i just didn't tow with it since i tried all kinds of things but never got it fixed. i gave up and just decided it was the 800k miles on the truck causing it