Garion's Head

[garion]

Argggh.... So I burped it three freaking times... Everything is great in the garage, never goes over 190, had it idling with an occasional rev for over an hour... Fan comes on, all that.

Take it on the road, and its fine for about the 7 miles or so.. My route starts out with city streets, then to 45mph, then 55mph.. It holds 190 perfectly until I turn around.. Then it just creeps up till 250-260 or so, while I nurse it home... I get home, shut the car off, and notice that the fan is not running.. I check my lower radiator hose, and its significantly cooler than the uppers... What the hell.. This is a new thermostat, and I know it works since I've tested it in the garage, and had it open..

My route is mostly right turns, until I turn around, which is a left U turn... Maybe that has something to do with it? Yeah. Grasping at straws here.

I'm outta town for the next few days, so I'll have to pick up the adventure when I get back...

[BEEK]

are you sure the correct side of the thermostat is facing the water pump?

[garion]

I believe so... The machined end go to the water pump, and then I just went with up going to the head, and the down doing to the radiator.... Here's pics:




My one concern is that the hose to the water pump is REALLY tight.. But thats what AutoRacmbi sent.. At least I think I got it from them.. Them or IAP..

[digitech]

I believe your Thermo is in wrong.

[Weelan]

Digitech you have a totally different thermostat. I have the same as Garion and I believe that's correct. based on this http://fiatparts.blogspot.com/2012/09/m ... h-way.html

[courtenay]

i seem to recall being advised to blow into the three openings - the one you can't blow through connects to the lower rad hose. When the thermostat reaches it's opening temp, the water would then flow through this opening to the rad and circulate the water. Once you have the tstat oriented so that this opening goes to the lower rad hose, the other connections should be obvious.

[manoa matt]

You have the thermostat installed correctly, however there is an air bubble in the lower hose at the very top where it connects to the thermostat. Loosen the clamp and stick a small flat blade screwdriver between the hose and thermostat. It will let the air escape. Once a bit of coolant comes out, pull out the screwdriver and tighten the clamp.

[BEEK]

digitech, i see you used a lancia block

[nelsonj]

Oh man... I hope your new head is ok with the engine getting that hot. Please post and let us know how it turns out. Having just rebuilt/installed my head I know it is a major task. I'm routing for ya!

[garion]

Back from my trip... Onto the Spider adventure..

Here's what i did just now:

1. Did what manoa matt suggested, and as soon as I cracked the lower hose at the thermo, I had coolant. Closed and tightened.
2. Opened the radiator cap, had coolant up to the top. Closed cap.
3. Opened the burp kit T, was low, so I filled till the top.
4. Squeezed all the hoses numerous times..
5. Opened Radiator cap, fluid started coming out, recapped.
6. Added a couple oz of fluid to the burp kit T.
7. Started car.
8. Waited for it to warm up, somewhere in the middle of 190-260, fan came on.. temp came down some.
9. Kept an eye on it, let the fan cycle several times.. Temp did vary some, but never stayed down by 190.

I wonder if its just my sensor/gauge at this point?? I put a meter on the the temp sensor, (while running/hot), and it measured 99.7 ohm or so (to the engine block). Putting it on the wire end, it was an open (which I would expect)..

Putting my IR meter, I didn't see any outrageous temps on the hoses.. Lower rad hose got to 185 or so, but thats it.. Upper hoses were hotter, but not by much.. The hose between the water pump and the thermo was hot, but that might be because of the block being so near..

[BEEK]

call me, i think i know what your problem may be, just hard to explain in text

[thechadzone]

Hi BEEK,

Sorry if I missed it in the text, but have you set a price for the work performed on Gsrion's head?

[BEEK]

pm sent, i dont know if it is appropriate to tell the price in the forum, but if it is i will do so

[garion]

Hey BEEK, I'll give you a call tomorrow (Sunday). Got roped by the wife for Xmas decorations.

Since I can't call you till tomorrow, I decided to try topping things off again... This time, the engine is cool, and I'm filling from the burp T... I fill up the T, wait a few minutes, and it goes down slowly.. No bubbles. Just goes down. Been doing this for 2 hours.. Been filling the T before it gets completely empty..

It seems like I have a leak somewhere? But I don't see it leaking out of the engine.. I don't see it in the oil.. The heat valve levers are all pointing to the front of the car, which I think means that they are open... Could I be leaking in the heater core? I don't see/feel anything wet in the passenger compartment. Nothing under the car.. I also elevated the overflow tube to be higher than the burp T, just to be sure I wasn't just filling my overflow...

It can't be evaporating... Its dry in Phoenix, but not THAT dry

[BEEK]

i think your engine is operating at the proper temperature, your guage is wrong, ill tell you how to check it and probably fix the problem