Engine is running very warm ... above 200-225 F ... it has been sitting for a few years but it was that same way before ..... Was thinking of changing the fan switch - the fan does come on but seems to wait a little too long - what temperature should it trigger the fans to come on? Any other suggestions? Flush the coolant system..... change the thermostat.... Thanks for the help!
Coolant level good? My 89 had a leak in the passenger heater valve and the coolant level got too low and started to run hot. Replaced it, topped coolant off, and bled the system all good again. Check the basics like coolant level, leaks, fan on/off, etc.
Remove the cat , install a test pipe, its good for a 15 - 18 degree temp drop , and perform all of the above as stated. G
328's are well known for their ability to maintain correct engine temp under any conditions. So if the temps you are seeing are accurate, something is definitely wrong. As mentioned, coolant level would be the first thing to check. Draining flushing the old coolant should be done though I wouldn't expect that to be the cause of the overheating problem in itself. Is the 200-225F temp to which you refer based on the temp gauge? If so, and you haven't already, check it with an IR gun pointing at the T-stat box from a couple of inches away to see if that correlates. Could be a temp gauge/sensor issue. Does the temp stay at the high level only when at low/idle speeds, returning to "normal" when the car is moving down the road? In that case the radiator fans could be at fault and/or the temp sensor may be faulty (BOTH fans should turn on together). As suggested, be sure the coolant level is correct. Are you getting any recurrent "spitting" from the coolant expansion tank? That can indicate an incorrect or faulty radiator cap which will, over time, cause you to lose coolant. It is important to use the proper type of rad cap - one that the small, circular metal vent on the underside is spring loaded "closed," as opposed to hanging open. T-stat could be faulty/failing to open properly. Easy enough to check in a pan of water on the stove/IR gun. Water pump is a less likely suspect but possible if everything else checks out OK. Is the high temp consistent - as in high all the time once the engine is warm, high only when idling, etc, or does it rise/fall somewhat randomly regardless of idling/running down the road?
Replace the coolant and the thermostatic valve first. Then - if not enough -redo the water radiator core and change the waterpump. Good luck Ciao
it was low on coolant ...... it had some in the reservoir but it ended up needing a gallon .... all running cool under 200. thanks for all the suggesions!
Cars don’t just get low on coolant. There is a leak somewhere if you were down that much. Check for leaks or residue from where it did leak. If you can’t see any signs from regular coolant hoses check the heater valves under the black cover under the front trunk. That’s where mine was leaking and you could tell until you took off the black cover under the front trunk.
Yep, the coolant didn't just disappear on its own. Along with the appropriate leak checks, check the radiator cap to be sure it is the proper type. If it's not, it will spit coolant and you won't see it because it is spitting out via the overflow hose while the car is running down the road.
If it has been sitting a few years flushing the coolant would be an expectation rather than a suggestion.
