Garage Storage Organization and Garage Cabinets

jimredden · **larger vnt radiator?**

How hot are the 89 CSX's suppose to run? My temp needle normally goes to the halfway point then, on warm to hot days, goes up to about the 3/4 point before dropping back to the halfway point. Is it supposed to move like that? The intercooler obviously takes up radiator space, so is the stock radiator too small and, if so, what can be done about it?

Jim
89 CSX #390
85 Dodge 600 SE turbo
89 Dodge raider 3.0

**Will Martin** · 02-02-2005, 12:07 PM

The needle moves like this all the time? Have you recently changed your fluid? If so, maybe you need to 'burp' the pipes, or drill the thremostat. How hot depends on different factors, like your coolant to water ratio, weather, etc. My VNT GLH runs at about 1/4 at normal engine temp.

jimredden · **temp gauge**

It runs at the 1/2 way mark even during cool weather, and fluctuates when it's summer. - jim

**Will Martin** · 02-02-2005, 01:34 PM

When was the last time you changed your coolant?

jimredden · **one problem found**

The shop found the radiator was partly blocked with the usual corrosion — and silicone from a previous thermostat replacement (not me, I swear)! I'll post again if the trouble continues. - Jim

**Will Martin** · 02-02-2005, 04:34 PM

So if the shop found this, then was it recored? Or was it flushed? And if silicone got in there (a substancial amount) then that could be what's causing the guage to act up. Usually when it does that, there's something flowing over the thermostat, like an air bubble, sludge (coolant build up).

jimredden · **radiator update**

So the radiator was cleaned out and reinstalled - but I still think it runs hot. When it's moving, the gauge is at 1/2 or a little below. But if I stop for any length of time, it begins to creep up to the 3/4 mark, when the fan kicks on and it drops back to a little below the 1/2 mark. It does that pretty often - about 5 times on my five-mile drive home last night.

I had the shop put a heat gun on the engine before I took the car. The fan comes on around 225 degrees, which is where it's suppose to (I think).

it's been doing this ever since I bought it and I didn't think much about it at first, since it wasn't actually overheating. But now I think it can't be good.

Any and all suggestions (or similar stories) appreciated.

If it's not one thing...

Jim

V8beware · 03-01-2005, 01:15 PM

Just my own experience here... i would look at replacing that radiator.. i fought overheating problems on my 90 Daytona for about a year. I kept finding and fixing various small leaks that was letting air into the lines but it would keep running around 3/4 or more, especially in Aug here in texax..

The radiator had been tested and cleared as okay, but i finally replaced it anyways. Viola.. have never had it overheat since..

For the 100 dollar bill its a pretty cheap and easy fix.. I also had considered having one custom built as i thought there was'nt enough fins with stock, but its been fine since even at 110 degrees in 10mph traffic with the ac full blast....

I do get some fluctations... as was mentioned, if a pocket of air hits it then you'll see a quick spike... occasionally it will hit and ride the halfway mark for a while, i've noticed that if i stop the car however when i get back in then its back to its normal 2/5, wiser minds than mine might have more insight, but i've always thought it was just the opportunity to pull more coolant back in and get rid of some the air pockets.

Hope that helps..

boxcar · 03-01-2005, 02:08 PM

As radiators age even a thin layer or crust built up on the inside of the tubes insulates the coolant inside from the air outside to a certain extent. Even though it may seem to be flowing well the efficiency is going away. A recore or new radiator would probably fix you right up.

jimredden · **Recore and more**

As it turned out, the radiator needed to be recored, in part because a previous owner had replaced a thermostat with so much silicone that it got into the radiator and plugged up some of it. Then the water pump started leaking, so I replaced it. I also pulled the weather stripping at the back of the engine compartment to let the heat out. it hasn't gone over the halfway mark since, which is encouraging. The really hot weather is still coming though...

Jim

desertsnake1991 · 03-11-2005, 11:56 AM

I think the 90 Model Radiators are WAY too thin for these cars, Daytonas as well. Why they changed it is anybodys guess, as the 89 Rad/IC set up is the sturdiest and most practical I have ever seen for a 4cyl Turbo car. Mine BARELY reaches the just under midway mark, and thats at over 140mph (indicated)MPH...could be cause its a tad cooler here in Germany than back home in Atlanta though...

If I were you, and believe me, I have lived in the South all my life aside from living here, find a 89 Radiator, flush it, test it, slap it in. Your engine will love you for it. Few things worse than overheating problems...

jimredden · **Mine is 89**

my car is an 89 CSX and I think it's the original radiator - everything else on it is. The shop that re-cored it said a guy with a similar once had them build a custom radiator with larger tanks for him, so maybe even the 89's aren't always good enough.

Jim
89 CSX #390
85 Dodge 600 SE t-1
www.pnw-sdac.com

desertsnake1991 · 03-12-2005, 03:05 AM

Hi...I was referring to mainly Daytona radiators, I am unsure what your car has on it. I have 2 Shelby Daytonas over here, and when they are parked side-to-side, and you look at the raditors, 89(thicker/better/sturdier), the 90 model looks weak and thin. Guess all the R&D that went into putting a revamped interior in the Daytona, was siphoned out of the "lets make the engine compartment sturdier looking" department. 90 models and up look like they came out of a Toyota or something...just thin and flimsy. Who knows. If I were you, and you are living in warm climate, and are having cooling issues, I would get RIGHT on that, and consider a fatter radiator, a better thermometer, and even an oil cooler...these engines are not reknowned for their durability when proper Maintenance hasn't been done on them. Radiators are WAY cheaper than heads...

jimredden · **Oil cooler recommendations?**

Good ideas - an oil coolers better than any others? - Jim

V8beware · 06-04-2005, 01:50 AM

Good info there desert snake.. all i've ever run was 90 and up.. i had'nt really looked at the radiators for 89 down..... i'll keep that in mind the next time i have to replace mine.. its been about 5 years now so its getting close..

I could'nt agree more how these radiators look.. flimsy. And that would be a hell of a lot easier than having one custom built.. will the 89 t2 rad drop right into the 90 brackets?