2022 check-in on cooling fan upgrades

QV's ...

 

Here in Modena tomorrow we expect +100° F (+38 °C) .

No idea what happens in USA deep south, but I suppose more or less the same.

Ciao

 

What I was gonna post

 

I hear you are having a bit of a drought too

 

completely agree. the 308 cooling system is not capable of handling today's driving conditions, it needs help. Re coring or using an updated radiator will help, larger stronger fans help as well. 328 Water pump is good to upgrade, and using water wetter solution vs. antifreeze if you are in warm weather helps a lot. the temp sensor and sending unit as well as the gauges need to be checked as well. My 308 ALWAYS overheated, but checking with a temp gun showed that it was not. also if you really overheating - the oil temp will go up and pressure goes down... which gives some consolation.

I had the original radiator rebuilt - new tanks and 4 additional rows of tubes, the capacity helped a lot here in Atlanta. when they tested rad at first it looked ok, but when they opened up the tank they saw that it was leaking through tons of pinhole leaks and evaporating before a noticeable leak... in my mind a good new radiator at this age is almost obligatory.

 

Modena has humidity - true, and when its hot it's hot, but in Birmingham and Atlanta - in the south - its like giant heat domes, so road temps can be 140F+ the 308' just dont do well in those temps. if you are moving - it will be ok... not great. any stop and go - you are dead. traffic in Modena, Bologna, and Maranello is NOTHING like over here. ....

 

Don’t forget to replace all the foam around the radiator. Top, bottom and sides including the strips on the hood. Air will always try to go around the radiator. Even a small amount of air leaking around the radiator will effect perform especially on a marginal cooling system.

 

140F+ are 60+ °C: it looks impossible, as you could die before the 308 engine

 

Certainly feels like you will at times.

Surface temp of concrete in Florida summer: 124F
Asphalt: 140F

That's from around 11am-5pm, with 95F ambient temp.

 

I'm talking only about measured air temperature: asphalt and concrete temperature here are the same as you have in Florida.

Temperatures are more or less the same as we have here.

Such temperatures (here or there) require a like new radiator core and waterpump.

Ciao

 

the road temp is 140 - ambient air temp 100F ish .... it is very possible and happens all the time. Come to Atlanta this August well go measure the temp in the middle of a Friday rush hour on Interstate 285.....

 

your right - the 308 is perfect from the factory.