Ok
For some odd reason, If i stick my car in drive, the engine temp stays within a tolerant area( about 190-210 ), But if i drive in overdrive it will just cook. I saw it hit 253 in overdrive. Also you would think that when your driving down the street your temp should go down or stay the same after sitting at a light. My car is *** backwards, It cools of when i slow down and stop at a light, and heats up when i start to go down the street. I'm baffeled. I've probably spent close to 1500 dollars on the cooling system alone, and it still acts funny. Some times i sit and watch it rise and fall, Sometimes it will fall 3 to 6 degrees at a time. Is this possible? I have replaced intake gaskets, water neck, thermostat, hoses, everything but the damn radiator. I would apreciate some help along w/ some intresting stories to make me feel better.
bowtieguy01

 

Well.. not that I know anything about coolant systems really... But have you checked the front of the radiator for garbage blocking airflow? It would seem to make sense that it would run hotter while you're moving if there's no increased airflow over the radiator.


But I'm thinking you probably already checked that. heh

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89 iroc-z 305 tbi
everything stock, except for a mirror that fell off

 

if it is a third gen camaro.. then it sounds like the plastic air damn under neath the car is gone or damaged... look to see underneath the car just under the radiator. this is the only way your car can cool down at cruising speeds

 

$1500 on the cooling system?there isnt that much money in cooling system parts,unless you got an alum.system with electic pump.If you really have replaced everything,start looking for something internal.Does it get hot at rest after running awile or just on the highway?

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~mike~
1 superclean 86IROC-Z

 

I'd start with the suggestion of checking to see if your air dam is damaged or even there. If that checks out ok, take your radiator to a radiator shop and have it checked. Sometimes when radiators get older, the lower part of the core can become plugged up, which would cause a restriction in coolant flow. You'll usually notice this first while driving on the freeway. A restricted cooling system seems to overheat quicker while driving at freeway speeds. The demand for more coolant flow is greater at these speeds. Having too low of a coolant level will act exactly the same way too.



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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

 

Nope air damn is fine, I'm thinking that the radiator is cloged.

 

Well, you didn't tell us if you were stock or not, but assuming you were.
You say you've replaced everything but the radiator. I didn't see you listing the water pump. Or radiator cap.
I've seen bad radiator caps do all sorts of weird things with cooling systems. Repalce it immediately, cheap insurance.
You say it runs hotter in OD than D. That only makes sense if the WP is kinda bad, perhaps a worn impeller. At the lower rpms in OD it isn't moving enough water to cool you down. With some more Rs it cools OK. I'd look at getting a high quality water pump, not some junker rebuild. I forget the company now, but someone makes a damn fine iron WP for barely more than a nice rebuilt unit.
And the radiator...if all else fails.
Then again, don't look past things like your antifreeze/coolant mix. My GP used to have an overheating problem that vanished when i thinned out the mix with plenty of water. Antifreeze makes a very poor heat transfer agent.
...ed