Odd overheating issue

[Chris142]

Thats weird about the bugs in FLorida. I'm in the desert and I see completly plugged Condensers and Radiators almost daily. What happens is the bugs hit the condenser and get sliced into pieces then they get pushed through the condenser and get pilled up between the condenser and Radiator.

This pile of bug parts builds up untill it completly fills the area between the radiator and condenser and no air can get through.

Then we have Corvette's and they seem to suck up a big Black trash bag up against the condenser on every Sunday drive.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


Where are you guys driving with all these bugs?


One trip across Kansas at night will get a radiator pretty loaded with dead bugs. For me, it's the pebbles that lodge into the radiator fins that do it. They act as a barrier, and then dirt and sand clogs up in front of the pebbles. I drove through a dust storm this spring in the Texas panhandle that left about an 1/8 inch layer of dirt all over the engine compartment in my car.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: cchase
although I would think the condenser would clog up first and you'd notice the poorly operating A/C before it ever affected the radiator.


That is what gets me. On every car I've cleaned the radiator and condenser on, it's usually the radiator that is more loaded with debris. I guess like Chris said, when stuff passes through the condenser, it gets stopped in the radiator fins.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum

Well, I actually have a continuously-variable speed electric fan on my '66 (aftermarket controller, large Ford fan) so I know the tech... but I didn't know that particular tech was standard on mid 2000s GM trucks. ;-)



Mark VIII fan by chance? I retrofit one to my Town Car. They move an obscene amount of air.


Its the next smaller one, which strangely was stock on the 3.8L powered Taurus. I have no idea why a 3.8 v6 needed a fan that keeps a Mopar 7.3L (440) perfectly cool in 112-degree ambient temps, but there you have it.

I would have used the MkVIII fan, but it was just to thick to fit between my custom aluminum rad and the water pump. If I were starting from scratch I'd get a custom evaporator, move the rad to the front of the rad support, and then a MkVIII fan would be no problem... but it turned out to be unnecessary anyway. The 3.8 Taurus fan has been plenty.

 

[OVERKILL]

Yup, I know the fan you are talking about, there was one on my buddy's '85. I had an SHO fan on my '87 and it was similar.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Yup, I know the fan you are talking about, there was one on my buddy's '85. I had an SHO fan on my '87 and it was similar.


I'm running it with the DCC fan controller you mentioned in your other post. I had to do a little bit of my own electronic noise suppression- I think the DCC is meant for track cars without stereo systems or (even worse) AM radios. It was NOISY until I added some caps and ferrite beads to the wires. But it sure does work great- just as much fan as you need and never more than you need.

 

[brandontyler65]

Well I think that it is a relay because I have 3 fan relays one for low high and overide(a/c) and my truck will not over heat while the a/c is on in the same conditions but as soon as I turn it off then the fans go back to low and will not speed up to high. What do you all think?

 

[ecotourist]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I'm still betting on plugged Radiator fins.


Me too. Sounds exactly like what my '86 Volvo used to do. Fine while moving, but running very hot at idle. Had the radiator cleaned inside and out and all was well.

Ecotourist

 

[OtisBlkR1]

sounds like your answering your own question. Whats the price to replace that one relay ? Im not one for just throwing parts at something.. but if its a cheap relay.. give it a shot.

 

[brandontyler65]

Relay is $5.00USD

 

[OtisBlkR1]

heck, $5.00 is worth a try..