1991TAGTA

Why when I run my A/C my car starts to overheat?

Ford2transam

When you say overheat how hot is it running? I noticed when siting still I ran about 220-225 instead of 195-200. When I asked my ac guy he said it's the extra load and no air circulation. The air being the biggest because of the condeser heating up the air before it hit the rad......something around that line do you have bugs/trash in the front of your condeser mambe a high presure wash to blow the stuff out might help. Your coolant look in good shape? lemme know what work or don't

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Take the cover off the top of the radiator and look between the condenser and radiator. There is always some bugs and leaves plugging that area up.

But yeah, no air flow over the condenser as noted above is a reason too.

1991TAGTA

Ok I cleaned up the area on the radiator and added new coolant but it still overheats. Do you think it might be my water pump?

GWW

I see a lot of this on this site. It appears to be a big problem with those of us who live in hot climates-108 yesterday. Mine will run about 210 until I hit the ac and watch out here comes 235-240 until I get on the freeway. If your radiator is even 20% plugged the temp can climb to boiling or 240 plus. Run your antifreeze at 60/40 and get your radiator checked by a good shop.
Amongst other things I don't think our cars were well engineered for hot temps. Not enough air flow at idle. My local radiator shop (been in business for 50 years) remembers when these were new and the Highway Patrol used them for interceptors. He told me they were in the shop a lot during those years for running too hot-nature of the beast.
I will be purchasing a spal dual fan set that is more powerfull than the duals that came stock.
GW

Ford2transam

Pump, water flow thru top hose? if yes then no ... Now you've cleaned the outside.. time to clean the inside has noted in the the prevoius post... like he said have a rad shop check it out

1991TAGTA

Yeah It has been really hot here lately, the car does cool down when I get on the freeway. I'll take it tomorrow and see what happens. Where could I get a set of Spal Dual Fans?

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

I'd say you're onto something. My cooling setup is 180° thermostat, fan 1 on at 190, fan 2 on at 200 (stock fans).

All summer long in Canada, the gauge would be pegged on 180. Drove across the USA from WA to TX. 180 the entire way. Went to 195 going through Denver at rush hour with the A/C on (long constant up hill). But that was it. Running 100 mph for long stretches of time? 180. Going through the mountains of Montana and Colorado? 180.

Now that I'm in Texas, it's always at 190 with the A/C off and up to 210 with the A/C on. In stop and go (more stop than go) I've seen it reach 215.

I think humidity plays a larger part in cooling temps than people think. When it was 94 degrees in BC, my gauge stayed at 180. 95 degrees and 60% in TX and it goes to 190-195 even within 5 minutes of driving.

GWW

It's not really humid here it just gets hot. It's been 100+ for two weeks. My thermostat is a 180, fan programmed to com on at 180. The other fan has a 195 degree switch in the block. Despite this I still will get to 230 or so when the ac is on and doing the stop and go thing on a hot day. There just isn't enough air movement. I also have a Stewart high volume pump. Today was about 90-thank god, and about 40% humidity. My temps stayed about 210 for the drive home.
Spal Fans are available http://www.spalusa.com/

GWW

ALso look at this site. http://www.rondavisradiators.com Interesting but I'm not sure if I like the shroud covering up the entire radiator. At speeds above 40?, the fans turn off and the car uses the air flow via the lower air dam and duct work. I'm wondering if this blocks the flow somewhat, or if it's not an issue?

1991TAGTA

I took my radiator to get cleaned and its working good now, My temp stays below 200 with the ac on. Thanks for your help and for posting up the fans.

Which fan do you recommend?

GWW

Good results, 200 degrees, I'm jealous. I haven't had either one yet but both SPAL and Be Cool have good reps. Type both or one at a time and search this site for installations and results. That way you can see who has run into what. There is a lot of stuff on here in regards to both. Go to the vendor sites, call them etc. I am leaning towards SPAL because they look exactly like the Be Cool and cost a bit less, but there are other issues to think about in any installation, amp pull, relay amp capacity, connectors, mounting brackets ($), engine room clearance. Do a lot of research first. That's where I'm at for now.