LUVTruck.com

tony's auto parts, autozone, or costless.

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$3 on rockauto.com

Sweet! Thank you again.

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Thought I would tag along here.. I also have an overheating problem, with similar symptoms. My 1981 LUV truck runs at half temp around town and even idling in traffic when the weather is hot, the temp stays at half or even a little below. My issue is at highway speeds. Anything over 55 and the temp starts to rise. I have not gotten it all the way to H as i've already replaced the head gasket once and don't wish to do that again. It was overheating regularly before the gasket replace. At the time of R&R head gasket, I got a new t-stat. Flow into the heater core is good, it blows very hot. Both hoses leading into and out of the radiator are hot, and the t-stat is operating correctly, opening at 180 degrees, and I can tell the pump is also working, by flow in the radiator. I have flushed the system with the "vinegar technique", running the engine with vinegar in the cooling system to hopefully remove some scale or crusty bits in there, then flushed with hose water. It worked pretty well actually. I then flushed the entire system three more separate times with hose water, including the heater core, after running it pretty hard, and always filling up with Distilled when i'm done. My filling technique is to fill up to the level of the t-stat, install t-stat, then fill the rest of the way up from the radiator. The first couple flushes were pretty nasty but now the water stays mostly clear, although there is a light film of rust on everything. Oh and also I shot a laser temp gauge at the head when running at half-temp and the temp is 180 degrees, so the gauge is working correctly.

I use my truck for everything, and I plan to drive it cross-country hauling a small camper trailer, which it does barely. The trailer just makes the overheat issue that much worse, obviously, as the motor has to work harder. I love my truck, any thoughts and comments on my overheat issue or cross-country voyage are welcome.

ordered the replacement part. I should have it within the next few days. Still planning on buying a infrared in the next few days.

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fyrefox--Overheating at speed means the engine is making more heat than the radiator can get rid of. Most of the time means radiator is still partially clogged yet. One other thing that can cause overheating is the distributor vacuum advance not working, you might check that. Causes late ignition timing at highway speeds.
In an emergency while on the highway just roll down the windows and turn the heater on high. Dosen't help your confort but does cool down the engine.

I've never checked the vacuum advance, as I don't know what to look for. If I take the hose off, should I feel some sort of suction? or should the truck run funny?

Because when I had the tube off (plugged and unplugged) timing (plugged) there was no difference in the way the motor ran.

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No vacuum there at idle. When you open the throttle some like when you are cruising there should be vacuum. The only real way to check it is with a timing light connected up, and while looking at the mark (6 deg as example) just open up the throttle a bit by hand and the mark should jump quickly to 12-15 degrees or so.
It is mainly a cruising mileage device and when not working vehicle will feel more sluggish and mileage will drop a couple miles per gallon. Overheating can also be the result which is why I mentioned it.

Buy or borrow a vacuum pump from someone and test the vacuum advance on the distributor.You will have to have the cap off to watch the arm of advance move on the distributor.

checked the hose, i could feel suction when i opened up the throttle, so that's good!

Changed out the temp sensor and it now heats up even more (according to the gauge) So hopefully I can get the radiator from my buddy soon and change it out.

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Instead of a different used radiator, have you thought of removing yours, and having a radiator shop clean it out, and test it/repair it, then put it back in your truck. You for sure, would then know you have a good flowing radiator. My guess money wise is $100-120.

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

that's what's happening mine is at a radiator shop where my friend works getting cleaned and leak tested, should have it back and over to skyy Monday/Tuesday.

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

Checking for vacuum is half the check. Does it actually move the distributor advance plate in the distrubutor or not is the other half. Either with a timing light as I posted or with a vacuum pump as cleaver posted.
Just something to check but maybe after you get the radiator done.

Oh OK. I didn't know that. I think a properly flowing rad. will fix this overheating issue. Let's hope so anyway.

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

I see in many threads how people say to time the engine at 4 or 6 or what ever. Why don't you guys time to the total advance?

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

Don't know why I suddenly disappeared from the forums again... Anyway, the headache is still around, still over heats, but ice been driving it 2 to 3 times a week with zero problems. I honestly think when one of the wires wasn't hooked up properly to the alt it fried a lot of stuff. My stereo, my tach, my amp, and something in my dash.

Really hoping my next stereo doesn't get fried.

Thinking about it right now, I'm wondering if I should wait to install this new stereo in case there's still a short. But my truck can go weeks without being started and still fire right up, where as before it would kill the battery after 2 day if I didn't start it. I guess I'll find out in the next few days.

Thanks for all the replies, if something happens I'll be back.

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Over heating has completely stopped. I stopped driving for a couple months and started driving it last week on a daily basis and sticks right around normal op temperature. No idea why, now I'm just dealing with flat tires on the luv (fairly sure someone slashed my tires) and replacing timing belt and water pump on my passat.

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Very nice. Glad to hear you got it going. And thats just plain dumb i dont get why people find it funny to slash tires that is a huge pain in the butt and a good chunk of change to deal with

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

Okay I lied, the overheating is back, makes no sense at all. I just need to replace the damn radiator to see if thats the cause.

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worth a shot at that point
hows it runnin other than that

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride