LUVTruck.com

hey everyone -

here's the problem
after 15 or 20 min of driving the temp needle starts to climb - last night it got up to about 75 percent of max.
temp outside wasnt too bad. no smoke/ steam/ smell

my friend (awesome mechanic) and i have been replacing parts and i wonder if a few of these things are adding to an overall slow overheat

he put in 10-30w not realizing it calls for 10-40w
the thermostat is rated at 190 (to hot? looks like the stock for these is 180 or 160?)
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Result ... 14+2014020

it has a brand new radiator but i might flush it to be safe, and im about to test if the fan is actually pulling enough air, and ive let it run with the heater on, but ill do it again to be safe. new water pump...

these little guys normally run pretty cool right? ive searched the forums and that seems to be the going consensus
is there something adjustment wise im missing?

any help is greatly appreciated

also i left a cheese cake on the seat.

nuts.

Oil shouldn't matter. The thermostat will matter. It needs a cooler one in it.
Does the fan have a clutch on it? If so it could be bad. Is there a fan shroud on the truck?
What year LUV is this? Is it all stock? Does it have A/C?

_________________
OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

AC will cause it run hot if you are running it down the highway... but I could never imagine that hot... check your antifreeze level and make sure it is to the top and check your overflow if you are running one. Thermostat for sure needs to go down... but other than that everything should be good.... im leaning towards low antifreeze level and thermostat

fan shroud is always a good help as most are missing these days... also check you timing again , it can cause it to overheat but not always the culprit

_________________
My old but now gone Luv...

I know the factory suggests 180 for the thermostat. Does anyone run a cooler one like a 160 and did it help with the overheating problem?

sorry should have included more info -
79 mikado/no ac (had it, took it out...)
new water pump, new radiator, new carb,
points, spark plugs, filters, etc etc etc.


the fan seems to be running strong - as in if i stuck my finger in there it would hurt like hell haha

i miss read the text my friend sent me he DID put in a 180 thermostat
the coolant level is a 50/50 pre mix, totally full. and seems to be circulating well. (flushed just recently)
there is a fan shroud.

now the timing.. thats interesting. it idles perfect and sounds great in gear. about 50-55 it starts to get a knock when i give it some gas. and i think its running a little rich... i had it running today and actually noticed the tiniest bit of smoke coming from the carb.

ive been in cars that overheat and i know how fast it can happen. im pretty sure its getting coolant (nothings clogged or pinched) since the heat isnt jumping up its a slow build up.


does anyone know why they made a 160 thermostat?
whats this about a clutch now?

thanks for the suggestions so far everyone

If you can find one I would run a cooler thermostat.Are you running ethanol that will cause a miss at high rpms.Check plug gap too.You might want to replace the radiator cap if you didn't.Also might want to flush heater core..a lot of people overlook that.To check the fan clutch grab the fan with the engine off.If it wiggles you need a new clutch.

the thermostat for a chevy small block will fit in a stock LUV.. go for a 1969 chevy c10 350 v8 .

_________________


4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

I aksed about the 160 thermostat because I just went through all of the same thing you are. I put in new offy intake, new radiator, new 180 thermostat, new water pump. After all the above were in, I started it up and in 10 minutes it is running hot, in the upper 3/4. So I take the thermostat out, test it on the stove and it opens at 180 degress? So I run it without the thermostat and in is running in the bottom 1/4?? I call Kragen and I order a 160 thermostat that will be in today or tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. I also inquired about a fan shroud, I may have found one hope to know about that soon. The one thing left is my timing will be checking that also soon. Hope to have some feedback for you.

David

please do. im gonna try flushing out the heating core as was suggested. and try the 160 thermostat myself, let me know how it goes!

i had the same problem it was just in need of a new radiator cap so try that they are cheap

the radiator cap is pretty mint... but its true. they are pretty cheap so i might as well just replace it...
the 160 thermostat should be here by the 25th.

also my stereo stopped working today.

im not sure why my luv is mad at me. but it clearly is.

My truck runs hot on long trips if its hot outside, and long grades and a load make it worse.
I can remember it doing the same thing 15 years ago too. Normally it runs cool and so it hasn't seemed as though a fix is necessary.

I put the 160 thermostat in and it seems to be helping. Running much cooler. The fan shroud also showed up. I will have it in soon too. I imagine this will help even further. After the shroud is in the timing will be next.

hey kids

i just turned 30 today. happy birthday me.

i put in the 160 thermostat, still overheating, thought maybe the sensor or gauge was off. but tested them and they are fine.
replaced the radiator cap.

flushed out the radiator and heater core and they were really dirty. replaced the coolant and and run for 10 min with heater wide open. the coolant was FILTHY! so it obviously needs a really serious flush. that 6 hour stuff.

anyway im sure that will kill the problem. if not. well. it's just going to have to wait until i put in a new engine

also, installed an electric fan in FRONT of my radiator.


so it goes



e.fan, radiator, fan


hahahahahahahahah awesome.