Overheating, heater blowing super hot air!!
09-01-2010, 12:04 PM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Casselberry,Florida,USA
Posts: 16
Overheating, heater blowing super hot air!!
Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas about this overheating issue? A few months ago, my 97 Z28 started getting warm while driving (initially would get up to the bottom of the red....then cool down. The next morning, it got up to the red and cooled a little, then got up there and stayed there. I pulled over and was boiling water out of the overflow tank. I let it cool down, added some water and took off driving again. It started heating up again pretty quickly and once in awhile would cool off a little bit. I attributed it to a sticking thermostat. Well, I was on the interstate and it got up in the red but by the time the shoulder opened up enough for me to pull off. It had blown a chunk out of the head gasket on the driver side.
I finally got around to fixing her, I changed head gaskets, had them resurfaced, changed both sensors, the t-stat, waterpump, flushed it several times, bled the system per shoebox's instructions, cleaned all the fins on the radiator, made sure the fans are kicking on etc. and still she is running hot! It was getting up to around 240* or so and when I turn the heat on, its super hot!!! It is taking longer to heat up after the waterpump change and radiator flush, but still running hot! the only things I can think of is the radiator is plugged? why else would the heater be pushing out such hot air? A lot of dirty water came out during radiator flushes btw....
Thanks in advance for the help!
Also, I've tried it with/without the t-stat and it gets hot either way, so I'm thinking I can eliminate that....also, what's the easiest way to check if the radiator is plugged?
I was wondering if anyone has any ideas about this overheating issue? A few months ago, my 97 Z28 started getting warm while driving (initially would get up to the bottom of the red....then cool down. The next morning, it got up to the red and cooled a little, then got up there and stayed there. I pulled over and was boiling water out of the overflow tank. I let it cool down, added some water and took off driving again. It started heating up again pretty quickly and once in awhile would cool off a little bit. I attributed it to a sticking thermostat. Well, I was on the interstate and it got up in the red but by the time the shoulder opened up enough for me to pull off. It had blown a chunk out of the head gasket on the driver side.
I finally got around to fixing her, I changed head gaskets, had them resurfaced, changed both sensors, the t-stat, waterpump, flushed it several times, bled the system per shoebox's instructions, cleaned all the fins on the radiator, made sure the fans are kicking on etc. and still she is running hot! It was getting up to around 240* or so and when I turn the heat on, its super hot!!! It is taking longer to heat up after the waterpump change and radiator flush, but still running hot! the only things I can think of is the radiator is plugged? why else would the heater be pushing out such hot air? A lot of dirty water came out during radiator flushes btw....
Thanks in advance for the help!
Also, I've tried it with/without the t-stat and it gets hot either way, so I'm thinking I can eliminate that....also, what's the easiest way to check if the radiator is plugged?
Last edited by Z28_Pilot; 09-01-2010 at 12:07 PM. Reason: t-stat info
09-01-2010, 04:03 PM
#2
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Casselberry,Florida,USA
Posts: 16
Well, I just replaced the radiator because the other one only had one warm spot with the engine running for awhile, so I assumed it was plugged pretty good.....unfortunately, it's still getting warm!!!
09-02-2010, 09:55 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Casselberry,Florida,USA
Posts: 16
It's heating up sitting at an idle. I don't have a scan tool so I can't tell wjat the PCM is reading for temps. I can grab the inlet hose and feel just a little bit of water flowing. I think it may still have air in it....I'm gonna try bleeding it again, maybe take out the t-stat and fill the water pump....
09-02-2010, 03:02 PM
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 0
VAPOR LOCK refers to fuel and lines not water. With water it's referred to as air bound.
Simply fill the radiator all the way up. Start the engine and watch the water till it starts to flow. As it goes down, fill it back up. Once the level holds steady and does not go down, close up the cap and shut er down. The next morning check the level and add as needed. DONE.
Simply fill the radiator all the way up. Start the engine and watch the water till it starts to flow. As it goes down, fill it back up. Once the level holds steady and does not go down, close up the cap and shut er down. The next morning check the level and add as needed. DONE.
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