R34 Gtt - Water Temperature In Hot Weather

[jrm]

Hey guys,

Since we've had such crazy hot weather this year, and this year I've been using my R34 GT-T for more daily duties I've found my car running quite hot during days like today (ambient temps seem to read between 40-43C).

My MFD is showing water temps hitting 99-100C sitting in stop-go traffic and oil temps hitting 95-98C. Factory gauge (as expected) just sits in the middle - so glad I have the MFD to let me know what's going on. Anyway, during this time (and pretty much any time water temps hit anything more than 90C) I can hear the radiator clutch fan going even at more than idle speeds (sounds like a commodore when they take off with that sorta wooshing noise). I had my radiator serviced about 20,000km ago, new fluid, new top tank etc. I've also checked coolant fluid levels and they're fine.

Is this just normal behaviour in 40-45C ambient temps or should I get the radiator checked for blockage and/or clutch fan checked (that it is so wooshy/loud at water temps >90C worries me - but its not on when it's cooler - so it seems to be working okay, right?)

I've done a search but I can't find any real authoritative answer for my question. Perhaps the knowledgable folk of SAU can help with some ideas/thoughts/comments?

Thanks!

[mad082]

your fan seems to be working fine, so don't worry about that.

in ambient temps as high as that you would expect some higher engine temps (especially in stop/go driving where airflow is dramatically reduced), but i don't know about that high.

as for what to look at to keep the temps down, there are 3 main things to consider looking at.

1: radiator. if this is slightly blocked (as happens over time) then it won't be operating at 100% effeciency and won't be able to disperse the heat properly

2: thermostat. if this isn't working properly it won't be allowing the correct flow of coolant to remove all the heat.

3: water pump. basically as above. if the car is getting close to needing it's 100,000km service (so basically anything from about 85,000kms or up) the water pump may be a contributing factor.

you say that you had the radiator serviced 20,000kms ago and had an end tank replaced, did they clean it while they were fixing it? i would assume they did, but do you recall them mentioning anything to you about it?

i had a 33 that was running up around 95 degrees on hot days (mid 30's). i put a new thermostat in and new coolant and it didn't help the problem at all. i didn't get around to actually solving the issue as i sold the car as i needed money. but in other cars i've had i've had overheating issues and solved them with new thermostats and radiator cleans (not just flushing it with the hose, etc but actually taking it to a radiator place and having them open it up and clean it). i have also seen on here where other people have changed water pumps to find that the impellor was worn away and was the cause of their heating issues.

[BASHO]

Only got factory gauges in mine and only about 29--34c ambient but I dont get big hikes water dosen't move above the middleish and oil just above 90--about 97 as near as I can see but only on realy warm (34c)days.

[KEN-R34]

My thermostat opens around 83 - 85 and then it sits at a constant 82 even on a 40c day unless I give it a squirt on boost.

But even then it eventually drops back down to around 82.

99 -100c definitely does not sound normal, my cars water temp has never touched 100 even on a hot day hitting max boost.

Oil temp usually sits higher then water temp.

Maybe you need to run a bigger Rad that would definitely help on them 40c days.

Edited February 9, 2010 by KEN-R34

[jrm]

in ambient temps as high as that you would expect some higher engine temps (especially in stop/go driving where airflow is dramatically reduced), but i don't know about that high.

It seems to go down to 90ish when i can get going at 60kph, but just worrisome to me.

as for what to look at to keep the temps down, there are 3 main things to consider looking at.

1: radiator. if this is slightly blocked (as happens over time) then it won't be operating at 100% effeciency and won't be able to disperse the heat properly

2: thermostat. if this isn't working properly it won't be allowing the correct flow of coolant to remove all the heat.

3: water pump. basically as above. if the car is getting close to needing it's 100,000km service (so basically anything from about 85,000kms or up) the water pump may be a contributing factor.

you say that you had the radiator serviced 20,000kms ago and had an end tank replaced, did they clean it while they were fixing it? i would assume they did, but do you recall them mentioning anything to you about it?

I've had a look at my service logs, and the receipt for the radiator service says '30% blocked'. However, I'd assumed they'd fixed that, but now I'm wondering if they had!

The car is hitting 93,000km, and approaching it's 100,000km service - plan is to change water pump at that time (is it worth putting a colder thermostat in too?). Thermostat from what I can tell seems to work normally otherwise, but hard to know?

i had a 33 that was running up around 95 degrees on hot days (mid 30's). i put a new thermostat in and new coolant and it didn't help the problem at all. i didn't get around to actually solving the issue as i sold the car as i needed money. but in other cars i've had i've had overheating issues and solved them with new thermostats and radiator cleans (not just flushing it with the hose, etc but actually taking it to a radiator place and having them open it up and clean it). i have also seen on here where other people have changed water pumps to find that the impellor was worn away and was the cause of their heating issues.

One of my biggest worries is I have a Blitz FMIC sitting on my dining room table ready to go in. Last thing I want to do is block my radiator more and cause more overheating woes. Pondering maybe taking the car back to the radiator specialist and asking them to do a flow-test. I'm assuming that shouldn't be stupidly expensive?

Alternatively, might have to bring forward my 100,000km service plans and/or not drive on these hot days :S

[mad082]

i would be doing the 100,000kms service ASAP. never trust the kms on the odometer of an imported car. it is not uncommon for them to be innaccurate from having a different cluster put in before being imported.

also if the radiator was noted as being 30% blocked i would assume they cleaned it, so i would proceed with the 100,000km service before bothering with it again. also wise to hold off putting the cooler in.

i wouldn't bother putting a colder thermostat in. did you get a genuine thermostat or an aftermarket one? if non genuine, the first thing i would recommend doing is getting a genuine one. this is one of the few things i do actually recommend getting genuine when it comes to skylines.

[BASHO]

I'd be phoning the joint who did the radiator flush and clarifying WTF 30% blocked meant --, blocked and cleared --more blocked before the flush and now only 30% blocked or what?

The entire retail market is full of smart arsed opperators with clever little disclaimers that abrogate what should be counted as reasonable service or care.

"Caveat emptor" has never been more relevant than it is now..