Possible temp problems

[87prerunner]

Okay so lately my truck has been running hot (or so I think) Its been running about 235 max with the AC on and about 200 - 210 with the ac off during the hot california day. Even on the freeway. Everything is new on the cooling system. I even have the bigger bronco 2 radiator in the truck. I have a 15 inch electric fan. The thermostat is a 180 fail safe one.

I was thinking I should go back to the belt driven fan and factory shroud. but that shouldn't make a difference on the freeway should it?

I have 4.11 gearing and 31 X 10.50 tires. Its an off road truck.

What considered overheating on the 2.9?

I will add that the temp here has been about 95 - 102 degrees

P.S. Head gaskets and heads are fine.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Just get a shroud so the fan pulls the air through the radiator. Do you have the fan on a temperature switch. I would try the schroud first tho.

 

[okietheranger]

If u ever decide to get another radiator get one from a 91-92 ford explorer 4.0 there I believe two rows instead of the stock 1 row the rangers and broncos have. And it's a direct dolt in no mods required. Other then that I never had good luck with electric fans I would put the stock setup back on see if it helps.

 

[87prerunner]

Yeah I got the 2 inch thick 2 row one.

The electric fan i have has a shroud on it but there is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of radiator untouched by it.

Ive had this electric fan on it for a long time now can even give you a year, but Im starting to think it might be slowing down and not pulling in as much air as it use to.

Ill go to the junk yard and grab a stock 17 inch fan with the factory shroud. If it seems to get better, ill put a flex fan on it with a spacer.

 

[cmr2]

lose the fell safe therm,always a problem with them IMO

 

[87prerunner]

Okay, Still having issues.

I got rid of that fail safe, it was locked open. now i see the temp drop when it opens and it doing what its suppose to do, but once i go up a hill or turn on the AC the truck heats up and still hit 230 and sometime 240

I notice when i first give it gas under load, theres a smell in the exhaust. It doesnt smell rich, but maybe lean, I also notice the truck hesitates a little at take off. Now I was told a lean condition can cause it to run hot. Is this true???

If it is true then ill dump some fuel system cleaner in it and replace the O2 and fuel filter.

 

[88ranger89camaro]

My friend starting having that problem with his 2.9, and it soon turned to be a sad sad day, he had a hairline crack in the right side head

 

[88ranger89camaro]

oh yea and lean will cause HOT

 

[87prerunner]

No the heads good, in the process of chasing this heat problem, i had the head gaskets replaced and the heads magnafluxed and rebuilt.

 

[87prerunner]

Well Today i pulled out a spark plug and saw that I am burning lean. So before i waste more money, im gonna do the correct diagnosis now. learned my lesson after spending close to 600 bucks and not getting the problem solved.

First i will hook up a vacuum gauge and see if my cat is clogged cause misreading in the O2 sensor, cause im not getting a lean code. also going up a slight hill yesterday, i had the truck pined to the floor and it wouldn't go over 75 mph and on a flat surface it wouldn't pick up speed for crap.

If that checks out I will pressure test the fuel system and see if maybe a pump is out or a filter is clogged or bad regulator. If all checks out I will through in a new O2 and dump a few bottles of complete fuel system cleaner in it.

If im missing something or you have any suggestions please say so, I want my ranger back to normal, I wanna drive with out the fear of me over heating and blowing the new gaskets and cracking a head.

 

[n_grimm]

I assume you have checked the base timing.