overheating

1989 OLDSMOBILE TORONADO
110,000 MILES
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VETTE2112
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new radiator new hose new heater core systm flushed it will run bt 20mins then the temp gauge shows 240 top half of the radiator is warm bottom half cold what can it be
Feb 16, 2012 at 3:29 AM
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CJ MEDEVAC
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MOST COMMON DEAL MIGHT BE THE THERMOSTAT NOT OPENING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT MAYBE THE RADIATOR HOSE (USUALLY THE BOTTOM ONE) IS SQUISHY AND SUCKING FLAT, WITH THE SUCTION GENERATED BY THE WATER PUMP...USED TO, MOST ALL RADIATOR HOSES HAD A ANTI-COLLAPSE SPRING IN THEM--NOW A DAYS, I TRANSFER MY OLD SPRING INTO THE HOSE, IF IT DOESN'T COME WITH ONE.

IN EITHER CASE, THE WATER CANNOT CIRCULATE AS IT SHOULD, AND THE COOLANT INSIDE THE ENGINE IS WHAT GETS TOO HOT. THIS MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR THE "NOT SO HOT" RADIATOR

LET US KNOW HOW IT'S GOING

THE MEDIC
Feb 16, 2012 at 3:43 AM
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VETTE2112
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it also has a new thermastat in it and the hose is fine
Feb 16, 2012 at 4:44 AM
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MERLIN2021
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It's normal for the radiator to cool at the lower part. Does it overheat? Might just be a bad defending unit. Or inaccurate gauge.
Feb 16, 2012 at 9:38 AM
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MERLIN2021
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That's sending unit....
Feb 16, 2012 at 9:40 AM
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VETTE2112
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its not the sending unit its fine after bt 20mins i loosen the cap and coolant trys to come out everything is new from the pump .heater core ,thermast,hoses, system flushed , new radiator
Feb 17, 2012 at 4:45 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Try this. With the engine cold, open the radiator cap and start the engine. Does coolant shoot out?
Feb 17, 2012 at 4:51 AM
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VETTE2112
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no
Feb 17, 2012 at 4:59 AM
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VETTE2112
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only after bout 20-30 mins if that thn it does
and it blows straight cold air
Feb 17, 2012 at 5:00 AM
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MERLIN2021
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This motor is 30 years old now and internal blockage may exist. Also any car will spill coolant coolant if opened hot. Also your thermostat may be defective even though it's new. Eater pump games may have dissolved, removethe thermostat start car, does coolant circu cilatelate?
Feb 17, 2012 at 9:40 AM
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MERLIN2021
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Damned phone changes spelling at will, thats the water pump vanes may have dissolved and not enough is being pumped through the system. Feel both water hoses to the heater core with a warmed up motor. are they both HOT? If only one is hot, the core is clogged and needs either replacing or if your real lucky, a backflush with high pressure. If both are cold, either the thermostat isnt opening, or the pump is no good, or there is an internal blockage in the engine block.
Feb 20, 2012 at 11:45 PM
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VETTE2112
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the whole system has been flushed it also has a new heatercore the waterpump is 5months old new radiator,new hoses,thermastat
Feb 20, 2012 at 11:50 PM
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VETTE2112
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im still tryn to figure out my subrn its drvin me nutts too
Feb 20, 2012 at 11:52 PM
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MERLIN2021
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Flushed engine block will not clear out internal blockages, only dismantle and boiling in a tank will do it, but you have not answerd if it actually overheats? Dont remove the cap, drive it for a while sit in traffic, then drive over 35 mph. If it overheats in traffic, you need a cooling fan.
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:36 AM
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VETTE2112
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both fans cme on after abt 20mins
Feb 21, 2012 at 3:57 PM
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MERLIN2021
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You are still not answering my original question, the fans should come on when the temp at the sensor get to 225 degrees, if this is correct, then you dont have an overheat problem, you have a gauge or sender problem. Rent an infrared thermometer and measure this please.
Feb 21, 2012 at 11:55 PM
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VETTE2112
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they come on bt 200 i cant even drive it to the store without it gettin hot
Feb 22, 2012 at 12:03 AM
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VETTE2112
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i changed the transmission pan gasket and nw it wont shift it has been running fine til i changed tht also found out the waterpump was the problem wit it overheating nw i cant figure out y it wnt shift
Mar 11, 2012 at 3:30 AM