nelson@cvl.UUCP (Randal Nelson) (03/05/85)
During a cold spell last January, the radiator on my Dodge Omni froze up.
It seemed to thaw out all right, with no leaks or coolant loss, but ever
since, the engine has been running hot. I have checked the fan
switch, the water pump and the thermostat seem to be working -- at least
during idle, and there is no sign of radiator hose collapse. Flushing out
the radiator helped a little -- it is now usable around town, but if I
take it out on the highway the temperature goes right up the scale.
Running the heater full blast helps some, but this is becoming increasingly
uncomfortable as the weather warms up. Has anyone had a similar problem
or any idea of what might be wrong? It is almost certainly something caused
by the freezeup as there has never been any sign of cooling problems
before, even during the hottest weather.
Thanks
Randal Nelson
(nelson@cvl)rex@eneevax.UUCP (Rex Root) (03/06/85)
Replace the thermostat .. they get flakey after getting overheated. They're not expensive, so it's worth a try.
adm@cbneb.UUCP (03/12/85)
Recheck your water pump. I have heard of pumps freezing and breaking the pump rotor free from the pulley shaft. It may turn but be slipping a lot, hence it provides a minimum of cooling but heats up under heavy load or long duration. Checking for this probably requires removal of the pump. Good luck! ihnp4!cbnap!tel Tom
kunz@hplsle.UUCP (kunz) (03/12/85)
Seems to me if the radiator were able to freeze up, you were not running
with a good concentration of anti-freeze. Your engine and radiator
are probably very corroded as a result. (Even if one expects no potential
for freezing weather, one should still protect the engine with anti-freeze)
Some amount of crud probably got dislodged when everything froze up and is
now plugging your radiator. The only *real* treatment for this is an acid
bath. Take it to a radiator shop for the acid bath, have them flush the
engine under pressure, and put in a 50/50 mix of ani-freeze and *distilled*
water.
Bob Kunz
{ihnp4!hplabs!hp-pcd, fluke, tekltone}!hplsla!kunzwilliams@rduxb.UUCP (WILLIAMS) (03/14/85)
> > Seems to me if the radiator were able to freeze up, you were not running > with a good concentration of anti-freeze. Your engine and radiator > are probably very corroded as a result. (Even if one expects no potential > for freezing weather, one should still protect the engine with anti-freeze) > Good idea! But I'd also like to point out that the anti-freeeze also lubricates the water pump. You'd be amazed how fast the bearing and/or seal deteriorate with plain water. Doug Williams AT&T Bell Labs Reading, PA rduxb!williams
page@ucla-cs.UUCP (03/19/85)
>> > Good idea! But I'd also like to point out that the anti-freeeze also >lubricates the water pump. You'd be amazed how fast the bearing and/or seal >deteriorate with plain water. How about water with some anti-corrosion product added (eg the Dupont anti-rust stuff)? If you are not in an area where freezing is a problem but rather high temps, can you get away with water and anti-rust? I have friends who say, "I don't want that gunk [anti-freeze] clogging up my radiator." They've never mentioned lubricating the water pump.
ix1037@sdcc6.UUCP (Christopher Latham) (03/22/85)
> >> > > Good idea! But I'd also like to point out that the anti-freeeze also > >lubricates the water pump. You'd be amazed how fast the bearing and/or seal > >deteriorate with plain water. > > How about water with some anti-corrosion product added (eg the Dupont anti-rust > stuff)? If you are not in an area where freezing is a problem but rather high > temps, can you get away with water and anti-rust? I have friends who say, > "I don't want that gunk [anti-freeze] clogging up my radiator." They've never > mentioned lubricating the water pump. Not only does anti-freeze keep the cooling system from freezing but it also increases the boiling point so the cooling system cools better. For example the anti-freeze that I use in my car will raise the boiling point to 268 degees F with a 60 % solution using a 14 PSI radiatorcap. It also says that the boiling point is increased by approximately 3 degrees for each extra PSI of the cap. So this would give a boiling point of about 226 degrees at atmospheric pressure for a 60 % solution. Christopher Latham U.C.San Diego Dept. of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences ..sdcsvax!sdcc6!ix1037
daw1@rduxb.UUCP (WILLIAMS) (03/23/85)
> >> > > Good idea! But I'd also like to point out that the anti-freeeze also > >lubricates the water pump. You'd be amazed how fast the bearing and/or seal > >deteriorate with plain water. > > How about water with some anti-corrosion product added (eg the Dupont anti-rust > stuff)? If you are not in an area where freezing is a problem but rather high > temps, can you get away with water and anti-rust? I have friends who say, > "I don't want that gunk [anti-freeze] clogging up my radiator." They've never > mentioned lubricating the water pump. I still say use "anti-freeze." It raises the boiling point of the mixture in the cooling system. Doug Williams AT&T Bell Labs Reading, PA rduxb!daw1 or rduxb!williams
sah9577@ritcv.UUCP (Scott Hossler) (03/28/85)
> > I still say use "anti-freeze." It raises the boiling point of > the mixture in the cooling system. > > Doug Williams > AT&T Bell Labs > Reading, PA > rduxb!daw1 or rduxb!williams It also has additives that prevent corrosion. Some of the passages in the water jacket and radiator are small enough that only a small amount will plug them up, restricting the coolant's flow. scott hossler rochester!ritcv!sah9577