i just recently bought an 89 RS TBI 305 camaro and i has a cooling problem. its overheating even at idel. i replaced the radiator, water pump, thermo, heater core, and nothin. it has a mechanical fan that blows towards the motor. it hits about 220 then it starts to boile then build up pressure. i put a garden hose in the radiator and disconnected the top hose and it seem to run freely and it sayed cool at about 190. so i thought there was an air pocket so i hooked everything up and and filled her up with the car on. i could see it flow freely then after it got so hot it didnt have a steady flow anymore. it would then start to spit it out and run like crap. so then i turned the fan around so it would blow towards the radiator and it seemed to stay at 210. so i drove it around the block and as i left the driveway it started to rise fast. im lost and i dont know what to do. plz help.

 

First off, turn the fan back around. Its just fighting the wind when you start moving.

How many miles does your car have on it, how old is the oil?

Also, does it overheat only on idle, or does it do so all the time? Hopefully its not an engine going south.

 

ok. ill switch the fan back around tomorrow. and it overheats at idle, in town, and on the highway. i just recently read that the EGR could be the problem if it is stuck open but i just put a new one on to pass cali emissions.
took the thermo out and it still overheats and has a large amount of pressure.

also heard that a bad head gasket or intake gasket might do it too

has fresh oil on a motor with 171000 miles

new ECC
new EGR
new Hypertech chip
new Heater core
new Waterpump
new Radiator
new Hoses (bottom one doesnt collapse)

 

I didnt know that 89's had mechanical fans. Well anyway do you have the fan shroud in place? If not I suggest you get it in a hurry.

 

Do you have the airdam underneath still?

 

well...... i have the airdam and the shroud. but i think campin1983 might be right. i was told that it was common for the 3rd gens that the block would crack in the middle where the cam bearings sit. i think i might just end up replacing the motor.

 

My car only has a few less miles than yours. It appears the TBI's can really go a while, but for every motor comes a curtain call.

Check to see if there is coolant in your oil, that'd be a sure sign of the end. If not some oil additives might help for a bit, but its like putting a band aid on a severed leg. I've had more than my share of motors blow on various cars I've owned, and they all had trouble controlling engine temps weeks before they threw a rod, spun a bearing, or had the block crack.

At the same time don't jump to conclusions. Maybe see if a cheap mechanic would look it over and tell you what's wrong. I'd feel really bad if you replaced the motor only to find out you overlooked something that woulda costed $20 to fix.

 

lol, well it as been a few days but i was too stressed to want to mess with her. i got bored today so i went out to her popped her hood and just started to tear it all down. i removed the intake manifold and started to laugh. it was torn apart before. i removed the gaskets and in one of the ports they left one of the tabs that your suppose to remove prior to installation so it completely blocked air and fuel from getting to one of the cylinders. . i am willing to bet that that is not the reason why she was overheating though!!! i find it funny only cause you would have to know absolutely nothing about a car inorder to do that.

Oh and there is no water or coolant in the oil so no blown head gasket or warpped head. thank god.

going to take the heads off later to see if the water jackets are rusted up.