Hot on the freeway

[aa35199]

I recently drove out to madison (70 mile hiway trip) and the speed limit was 65 me being me I paced the fastest car and stayed at about 75-85 mph. Anyways the thermometer stayed at about roughly 3/4, but after about 10-20 min it creeps up to point just before the redline and stays there swaying slightly into the red and then back to just over 3/4 and back to red again. Anyways not wanting to slow down I roll down the windows and put the heater on full blast and this only helped a little bit. Finally I gave in and slowed to 65 and magically within 2 min my temp was down to 1/2 and stayed there. I recently installed a jetchips low temp. thermostat and saw no difference. My coolant is on the low side, but not low enough to need more and the radiator has been flushed several several times, still no difference. This only happens on the freeway once I sit at 75 mph+ speeds, my car doesn't get nearly this hot at idle. Any body have this problem and know whats behind this?

[slow6]

top off your radiator with water for starters
bleed the air out
your thermo shouldnt ever go above 1/2
mine stays below 210F always

[slow6]

if you turn on your AC do your radiator fans come on?
you bleed the air out by running the engine with radiator cap off or theres a bleeder valve on the thermostat housing.
lefty loosey righty tighty

[phil97.3.8]

mine stays below 210F always

hope you don't hit 212 with 100% water in your reservoir

[shenanigans]

I doubt its a fan problem if its fine at idle...

if your coolant is low fill it up and bleed the system.


Also what does your air dam look like?

[asdf1234]

I have the same problem, because my air dam is torn up. Might want to check it out. It's the part underneath the front of your car that deflects air up to your radiator.

Since mine is bolted in everywhere, I assume that when i hit a certain speed (around 75), it blows it back and keeps it from deflecting the air. And I guess this is what makes it overheat.

[shenanigans]

yeah the airdam is pretty important for keeping the motor cool on the highway.

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by phil97.3.8:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> mine stays below 210F always

hope you don't hit 212 with 100% water in your reservoir </font>[/QUOTE]The cooling system is under pressure, which raises the boiling point (remember physics?). Probably somewhere around 40°F higher boiling point when under pressure.

Running at 212° with 100% water wouldn't do a thing. It would just freeze at a much higher temperature than with a mix. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Edit: Running at 15 psi (maximum is 18 psi), pure water should boil at a temperature of 268° ;)

[ September 17, 2005, 01:51 PM: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]

[aa35199]

I don't have an airdam, when I bought the car it was half torn off so I removed assuming it was mearly a their to warn you when you were about to bottom out your car, I'll try replacing it

[slow6]

i try to learn something new everyday
thnx 98camaro & phil

[CAMAROWIDBASS]

Originally posted by aa35199:
I don't have an airdam, when I bought the car it was half torn off so I removed assuming it was mearly a their to warn you when you were about to bottom out your car, I'll try replacing it

thats your problem, once you replace it it will reflect air up towards the radiator.

[rhodeymark]

Don't feel bad aa - the first time I saw, errr heard my airdam I cursed the engineers. "Damn car is low enough, doesn't need a driveway sweeper!" Live & learn, eh? ~ rhodey

[BiH]

Originally posted by aa35199:
I don't have an airdam, when I bought the car it was half torn off so I removed assuming it was mearly a their to warn you when you were about to bottom out your car, I'll try replacing it

I dont have it either on my car,but once I go on the highway it overheats fast.if your driving alot on the highway I would get an airdam as soon an you can,otherwise you might blow a head gasket [img]redface.gif[/img]

[shenanigans]

get a airdamn on their somehow...


its common, don't worry your not the first person to find this out...

[shenanigans]

while under my car today, noticed its a cinch to do... I oculdn't remember if it was one piece or noe...