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Why are my water temps so damn high?

Old Oct 21, 2009 | 06:13 PM
  #1  
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Unhappy Why are my water temps so damn high?

Something's up with my water temp since boosting the car. I'm datalogging, and at highway speed it's running at 199* to 207* just cruising at 65mph, and that's on a cool day. Puttering around secondary roads, it's a few degrees higher.

I've bled the system til I'm crosseyed, run with and without a thermostat, and still the car runs hot. I haven't reinstalled the nose air guide or undertray yet. I know that's not helping me, but I don't know to what extent. I borrowed a coolant pressure tester from Advance Auto, and the system holds steady at 20psi. My radiator cap tested bad, so I bought a new one. I tested the thermostat in a pot of water on the stove, and it opens properly.

My setup:
MSPNP / MAF delete / RX7 550's
FM GT2560R kit with FMIC
Koyo 55mm radiator
New radiator cap
Dual Partzfinder 12" fans wired in parallel
New 180* thermostat with 1/8" bleed hole
New WP belt, verified tight
All external hoses replaced with new Mazda parts
80/20 water to coolant

The fans shouldn't even matter at highway speeds, but I have the Megasquirt programmed to turn them on at 190, so they're pretty much always running. Could my water pump be bad? I don't have any indication of a blown head gasket (no milky coolant or white exhaust smoke).

So what am I missing here?

C
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 06:21 PM
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Put the undertray on, then report back.
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 06:22 PM
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Cuz ur so damned hot. ASL?
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 06:29 PM
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Indeed, put your under tray back on. What does your timing and fuel look like at those speeds? I know it's happening at slower speeds as well, but you could be running the engine a little hot with running too much timing and/or lean. If the system wasn't properly bled, your needle would be spiking up and down as air bubbles passed by the sensor, so I wouldn't worry about that. Also, it sounds stupid, but have you verified the fans are blowing in the correct direction?
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 07:06 PM
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Your running hot because you dont have this [IMG][/IMG]
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by crashnscar
Put the undertray on, then report back.
Ok, that'll be my next step. I was afraid someone would say that. Trimming it to clear the intercooler piping looks like a PITA.

Originally Posted by curly
Indeed, put your under tray back on. What does your timing and fuel look like at those speeds? I know it's happening at slower speeds as well, but you could be running the engine a little hot with running too much timing and/or lean. If the system wasn't properly bled, your needle would be spiking up and down as air bubbles passed by the sensor, so I wouldn't worry about that. Also, it sounds stupid, but have you verified the fans are blowing in the correct direction?
Timing isn't tuned yet, and I'm at around 12:1 or 13:1 while cruising. Already checked the fan direction, they're good.

Originally Posted by Gotpsi?
Your running hot because you dont have this
You kid, right?

C
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Gotpsi?
Your running hot because you dont have this [IMG][/IMG]
better get some of these to go with that monstrosity:

Old Oct 21, 2009 | 08:36 PM
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my coolant temps hang right around 210 on a hot day, and in boost on a hot day never goes past 215.

Stock rad
80 water/20 antifreeze
happy untill i start tracking.
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by chriscar
Ok, that'll be my next step. I was afraid someone would say that. Trimming it to clear the intercooler piping looks like a PITA.
Trim it as little as possible - it's the OEM radiator ducting and it is hugely important. I bet you never see street temps over 200 degrees with it on.
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 08:39 PM
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Cruising at 12-13 is bad...
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 08:40 PM
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Alrighty then, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the ducting and undertray solve it. I built this with the intention of doing tracks days, so unless this gets fixed, my SE-R will keep having all the fun.

C
Old Oct 21, 2009 | 10:57 PM
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Ha ha ya I only run that on the track, but then again I havent driven my car on the street in almost a year now so.. its still on there.
Old Oct 22, 2009 | 12:51 AM
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same going on here. My temps never go bellow 197 degrees. Usually when i boost temps go as high as 212. I have no undertray or air guide. I am going to figure something out soon tho.
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