Overheating Issues after Opti Install

[gregrob]

Well to make a long story short I pulled the rad and condensor to do the opti swap.

Filled back up w coolant, left both bleeder screws open til I had coolant coming out of them. On first fillup it only held 2 gallons.

I took some extra w me just in case and went for a drive.

I drove 95+ on the freeway for about 15 miles, got to our little spot across the border in "mexico", raced 2 cars. Drove all the way back to town, went to a different spot and raced, cruised etc.

Put over 40 miles on the car and never a problem. Was watching the temp gauge the whole time and it was where it always is and the heater was working great.

Parked the car to grab a bite to eat and when I left I was driving super easy. 1500 rpms for about 2 miles and I look down and the temp gauge is pegged.

I shut it off immediately and coasted into a parking lot.

Had friends bring me some water and after it cooled down we added about a gallon.

That's all it would take so I filled up some more jugs and headed home, about a 35mi drive each way.

Drove it home and checked it this morning before startup and it only took about 1/4 of a gallon.

Drive it around town all day and tonight so by this time I have over 85 miles and no issues. Well I left the gas station and I notice it getting hot, it got close to the red mark and then fell back to normal like a rock, like the thermo opened right?

Well I left my buddies house and it did it again, started getting hot and then fell like a rock. I was watching it really close by this time.

We went to the store to rent a movie and when we left it did the same routine, except this time, it didn't cool down. I never let it touch the red but it got hot enough to start boiling over a little.

I think maybe the thermostat is sticking so we went and got a new one and put it on. It cooled down after I topped it off w coolant again, held about 1 1/2 gals but I'm sure it boiled that much out.

At this point I've driven the car about 10 miles and the temp is perfectly normal and does not appear to be leaking anywhere.

So... you guys think I just had a bad thermostat the whole time, or do I have bigger issues to worry about?

Reverse Flow Cooling FTL :(

[95formula383lt1]

i had the same problems turned out to be my thermostat too.

[Fastbird]

Sounds like a sticking thermostat to me too. I think you made the right move and shouldn't have any more issues.

[gregrob]

Thanks guys. I'm keeping an eye in it and its not leaking a drop and no temp issues as of yet after 30 miles on the new thermo

[uncool]

Greg,

Watch it VERY close now. After putting in a new MSD opti, WP and Tstat, after 200 or so miles, that is when the head gasket went. I never had an overheating issue like you had. I took alot of time to get the system purged of air before I even left the driveway.

Thanks to that, my H/C/I from LE will be here the end of May.

Marc

[gregrob]

Thanks Marc.

I'm watching it like a hawk and keeping it topped off. So far its held maybe another half gallon since refilling it after the thermostat.

I would love to have an excuse to do H/C/I but that would be a stretch funds wise so I hope it holds together for a few more months lol.

Oh well its not a DD but with only 80K on the car it would suck if I hurt it. Oh well, time will tell

[gregrob]

Well I was sittin in a parking lot a few minutes ago talking to the previous owner on the phone about this issue and I noticed the temp start climbing. It got to about 220 and then dropped back down. Looked outside and it had spit out a bunch of coolant on the ground :-(

Took about half a gallon to fill it back up. Looks like it is wet over by the recovery tank like its spitting it out there. The inner fender and battery tray is all wet.

I'm getting tired of this, I wonder if it will eventually get bled out? Guess ill just keep topping it off and watching the temp