Scott Dabinett Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I recently swapped my normal radiator that was leaking for an Ali one, was a but of a bastard to bleed but got there in the end! Now when I just drive it normally the temperature is at about 90-95 but when I give it some stick the temperature drops to 80! I know there is obviously more air flow when going faster but does it really cool it by 15 degree's? Thanks Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 90-95 sounds a bit warm when driven normally .... at this time of year ? What is the setting of your thermostat ? Wonder if you still have an airlock in there somewhere ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fil M Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Hello Scott, If you have a K series the little brass temp sender in the water rail are notoriously prone to going Kaput. When they do they can over read more and more until it needs replacing (cheap and easy to do)..if your reading high (mine shows 90 at the mo cos the sender is beginning to fail) this could be the reason. Not sure about the definitive answer in terms of the temperature drop someone else who has done your upgrade may be able to help...i wont guess or it will muddy your water. If your car is a K then probably worth ordering a couple of senders and changing it for peace of mind (2 minute job). Any problems on that count or more info just shout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Do you have a bleed tee in the highest heater hose ? You need to get the air out at the highest point. If the hoses to the expansion bottle allow, unbolt the bottle and raise it as high as you can to encourage the air up to it. Hope the heater was turned 'on' during filling of the system ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makingff Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 When I changed my rad (or rather when Richard Young did!) from standard to a RadTec Extreme, I did notice the temperature dropping with spirited driving! However, not by that much! I agree that it sounds likely to be an airlock or the temperature sender. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 It's a K with a feckin big alloy rad, the weather is feckin freezin and the wind chill is huge try driving hard down the road in a T shirt and see how you feel. It's overcooling once your pushing on in this weather, the water coming into botom of engine is too cold the stat is totally confused and wants to go to Florida for a holiday. Cut out a lump of card and block off bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of rad go for a drive and se what happens I always run in winter with bottom of rad closed off. The Thermal shock isn't doing your engine much good either. Been driving a K for 16 yrs works for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Quoting Johnty Lyons: Cut out a lump of card and block off bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of rad go for a drive and se what happens I always run in winter with bottom of rad closed off But, why we don't need to do this to a tintop? Ahmed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keybaud Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Quoting Scott Dabinett: I know there is obviously more air flow when going faster but does it really cool it by 15 degree's? Air lock aside, your water pump will be operating faster if you are at higher revs, increasing the flow rate to the radiator. Edited by - keybaud on 28 Mar 2013 17:15:58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 But its not a tin top and the cooling sys works arse about face with stat on return leg and you've increased cooling capacity from std. You also have a much more efficient air flow to your Rad than any tin top. Just try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sheldon Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I agree with Johnty, I have my Radtec blocked off approx 3/4 in this cold weather. My temp also drops when blatting unless I do this. I get a steady 80 degs as a result on a stack temp gauge. If it gets hotter, I just regulate it with my heater fan when in traffic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dabinett Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thanks for the replies! Does anyone know the part number of the temp sensor? I need to wire wire up a fan over ride as well I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Quoting Johnty Lyons: the wind chill is huge try driving hard down the road in a T shirt and see how you feel.But wind chill won't lower the temperature of an inanimate object below ambient (unlike the guy in the T-shirt). Agree about the blanking card. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Do the coolant mod featured in LF late last year. Get all the air out of the system. Easier with above mod and hole in TOP of thermostat flange. Warms up to 80C quickly and just sits there You really shouldn't need an override too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I jumped through this hoop a while back. I was convinced that I had an airlock, but after so many attempts at filling by different methods (and after getting through seemingly gallons of coolant), I did what I should have done in the first place, which was to change the thermostat. As soon as I did that I was back to 80c steady temp. I have a theory (based purely upon the number of times this crops up). When you break into the cooling system I think 1 of 2 things happen - 1) a thermostat on it's way out suddenly gets tipped over the edge or 2) the thermostat was already over the edge but you didn't notice because you gauge was turned to oil temp instead. Don't have the part number to hand, but I took the old one into Halfrauds and got a replacement for six squid. Filled the coolant very slowly - didn't bother with jacking or bleed tees or anything like that (caveat here is that I don't have a heater) - all worked hunky-dory after that.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dabinett Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Ok, sounds like It would be worth changing the thermostat and the temp sensor! What temperature thermostat is best? I do a few track days a year and do I need one with or without a seal ring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I think the standard was 88C Some of us have changed to 82C for peace of mind. The QH thermostat from Halfords includes the rubber seal that goes round the outside of the flange ... inside the housing. Note the thermostat only fits in one way round so be careful to work out which way is up before drilling the 3mm hole. Edited by - Stationary M25 Traveller on 29 Mar 2013 18:52:08 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 as said simply block off half the rad and wait for 20c ambient before you think you have a problem. I also run with half rad blocked off below 16c ambient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil66 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Quoting John Vine: Quoting Johnty Lyons: the wind chill is huge try driving hard down the road in a T shirt and see how you feel.But wind chill won't lower the temperature of an inanimate object below ambient (unlike the guy in the T-shirt). Agree about the blanking card. JV Correct but wind chill will cool said inanimate object much quicker... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Quoting Neil66: Quoting John Vine: Quoting Johnty Lyons: the wind chill is huge try driving hard down the road in a T shirt and see how you feel.But wind chill won't lower the temperature of an inanimate object below ambient (unlike the guy in the T-shirt). Agree about the blanking card. JV Correct but wind chill will cool said inanimate object much quicker...Also correct, especially if said object is wet. JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasgow Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 How would you block off the radiator - a piece of cardboard? and how you fixed it to the radiator - ducktape? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You could stick duct tape across the front of the radiator. I use some closed cell foam between the inner and outer mesh in the nosecone opening to reduce the cold airflow at this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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