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jeepthing
05-20-2003, 06:51 PM
Well, today I was on my way home from work, and was planning on trying to fix my stalling problem when I notice that my temp gauge is starting to rise as I get stuck in more and more traffic.

Now, it was a hot day today, but not that bad. So I would drive for a while, and it would start to cool down (not sure the temp, but it usually is just above the blue area). Then when I'd get stuck at a light, slowly it would climb. It was sitting halfway between the top of the blue line and the 220 mark.

As I got closer to home, and had to sit more, it started going higher and higher. Went to 220 mark. I kept watching it, and it seemed like it would sometimes drop a little bit, then start climbing again, almost like the thermostat was opening or something, but opening way to late.

When I did finally get home, it was a little over the 220 mark when I shut the engine off. I popped the hood, and could see bubbles in my overflow tube area before the reservoir. I didn't think to look at the level in my reservoir at the time.

I just checked it, and it's completely cooled down now. The level in the reservoir is just slightly under the add mark. I popped the cap off the radiator and I can see fluid right there basically at the top.

So not sure if the fluid is a little low (it says in the book that it should be at or above the add mark when cold, and at the full mark when operating temperature.

Any ideas guys? Is it just low coolant (doesn't seem so), or something else.. Maybe the thermostat??

jeepthing
05-20-2003, 06:59 PM
I guess I should also ask, since I might need to buy a thermostat, what temp should I get?

jeepthing
05-20-2003, 07:02 PM
Also should mention, that when I popped the hood, nothing was leaking radiator fluid...which is a good thing of course.

When I bought the GW it didn't have its radiator shroud. Not sure if that alone will cause overheating problems, but thought I should mention it.

brent
05-20-2003, 07:08 PM
I think 295 is correct. I just installed one and that's what the autozone computer said, for what that's worth. But my 79 360 is a different animal than your 91, so hopefully you'll get the right answer. Flush your radiator and mix it for summer, that way you keep eliminating variables.--Brent

paddyp
05-20-2003, 11:01 PM
I think Brent meant to say 195 and not 295. It should be the same, and I would recommend finding another fan shroud. That shroud helps the fan suck air through the radiator when you are stopped. If evrything else is borderline, the shroud would definitely push it over the top. Flush the radiator, replace the thermostat, and try and get another shroud, before the weather gets even hotter. Cracked heads and blocks are no fun.

BK
05-21-2003, 12:29 AM
I had the same problems. Flushed the crap out of the radiator, put a 195 in, new hoses, new fan clutch. Now I can let it sit and run in park all day and it never gets too hot. What I like to do is take the thermostat out before I flush it. That way it's flowing good with the flush in there and let it run for quite a while. I don't know what anyone else thinks about this but it seems to clean it out well.

coolram
05-21-2003, 12:36 AM
That's a good idea Bk.I went with a 180 degree thermo in mine.And get one of the reverse opening thermos,that way if it fails it does so in the open position.

talntar
05-21-2003, 12:42 AM
Originally posted by BK:
I had the same problems. Flushed the crap out of the radiator, put a 195 in, new hoses, new fan clutch. Now I can let it sit and run in park all day and it never gets too hot. What I like to do is take the thermostat out before I flush it. That way it's flowing good with the flush in there and let it run for quite a while. I don't know what anyone else thinks about this but it seems to clean it out well.i did all that and a new water pump.fushed it like 6 times before it was clear.now without a shroud it has never even got to the green on the 85

SAustinwag
05-21-2003, 01:53 AM
Dood you live in Santa Clara CA, I used to work out there man, you've got great weather year round, you should just take the thermo. out and put in an electric fan to help the radiator on those hot, traffic days. That's what I did and I've never had a problem since and I drive3 my truck in 110 deg. weather..