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308 overheating problem

Discussion in '308/328' started by bigdreamer, Jul 25, 2006.

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  1. bigdreamer

    bigdreamer Karting

    Jan 24, 2005
    203
    Wash. DC area
    Full Name:
    Wayne
    #1 bigdreamer, Jul 25, 2006
    Took the 308 out for a spin to get the engine in condition after a month of sitting. Had to jump the battery and get it running. Stopped off at the station to get gas but had to leave engine idle. Slow pump had to wait a good 8 minutes for this to fill. Right as I was leaving the station smoke came out of engine bay and I had to shut down. Temp was up to 250. Did something really stupid after and...... lets just say coolant was all over the engine. Why the sudden temp surge? I figure it could have been the battery since it was dead and the radiator fans weren't working. But I got a new battery and the fans turned on after it got to 205. Air in the radiator? Or a thermostat problem? Seems to happen when in idle.
     
  2. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

    Oct 19, 2001
    16,078
    Arlington Heights IL
    Full Name:
    Kenneth
    #2 Ken, Jul 25, 2006
    Overheating at idle is poor circulation of coolant (assuming the fans work). A stuck thermostat, air bubbles, water pump shot, loose water pump belt, not enough coolant in system...could be anything.

    I'd start with a purge of all the old coolant and bleed the system correctly. Better? Check the water pump pully for play (can you do that on a 308?). If it's okay, and you're still overheating, next I'd replace the thermostat. If that didn't work, I'd take the radiator out for cleaning/rodding. After that, maybe you have corrosion in the plumming somewhere?

    Ken
     
  3. bigdreamer

    bigdreamer Karting

    Jan 24, 2005
    203
    Wash. DC area
    Full Name:
    Wayne
    #3 bigdreamer, Jul 25, 2006
    How to do this? Do I just turn/unscrew the little round knob on the radiator and flush the coolant out? The coolant/radiator pipes underneath do need to be welded for a few leaks. But I never saw a trail of coolant over the road when it was running or on the ground when it was sitting.
     
  4. Ken

    Ken F1 World Champ

    Oct 19, 2001
    16,078
    Arlington Heights IL
    Full Name:
    Kenneth
    #4 Ken, Jul 25, 2006
    Leaky pipes??? That can introduce air which won't help your cooling. You need to address that issue! Replacing them is a PITA but I don't know if welding will work.

    Check the archives or owners/shop manual for correct bleeding/flushing. I don't have a 308 so I better not give specific instructions. You do have 2 bleed ports I think, so park uphill/downhill to help get air out. And don't forget to turn the heater on full.

    Ken
     
  5. Javelin276

    Javelin276 Formula Junior

    Jan 16, 2005
    512
    Idaho
    Full Name:
    Thor Zollinger
    #5 Javelin276, Jul 25, 2006
    Mine did something similar just yesterday... I stopped and popped the front bonnet and the fan wasn't running. I wiggled the wires and the fan came on, so I know where the problem with mine is.

    The other most likely culprit is a stuck thermostat.

    Thor
    www.JavelinArt.com
     
  6. decampos

    decampos Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 11, 2005
    460
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Ben
    #6 decampos, Jul 25, 2006
    You might need a new radiator cap. They become less effective as they get older. A new slightly higher pressure cap (1.1 bar) helped sort my overheating problems out.
     
  7. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #7 Birdman, Jul 26, 2006
    1. Be sure you have the foam on the underside of the hood that seals against the radiator when you close the hood. If you don't have that, air goes over the radiator instead of through it.

    2. Bleed the system well at BOTH ends. There is a bleeder screw on the radiator and another one on the thermostat housing on the right side of the engine, between the V of the block. On a carb car you need to pull the airbox to access it. If you only bleed at one end, you will not get all the air out.

    Birdman
     
  8. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,437
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    #8 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Jul 26, 2006
    You should also get out of the habit of jumping the car and then driving it to charge the battery. That beats the **** out of the not-easy-to-reach-in-your-driveway alt. Seriously. Just charge it overnight or install another battery if you want to get it going again. MUCH cheaper, MUCH easier.

    I have been guilty of this in the past myself but I stopped years ago and installed a battery charger. Now If the car has been sitting and I know I want to drive it the next day, I simply plug it overnight. The plug pokes out of the front grill so I don't even have to lift the hood.
     

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