STOP LEAK AND OVER HEATING!!!!
07-08-2002, 02:08 PM
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STOP LEAK AND OVER HEATING!!!!
Hello to all,
For those of you that have been following my plight, I may have concord this over heating problem in my 87 944 n/a, however, there is one perplexing issue that I cannot seem to over come.
After replacing every sensor in the cooling system as well as the radiator water pump, thermostat as well as checking both fans to ensure proper working order, I still had an over heating problem after all that. 190-200+ F, Too hot for my comfort level, not to mention the gauge in the car was constantly running at third bar. Confused and dismayed I decided to give it one more go with a complete system flush and radiator cleaning. So I set out to build a tool that would allow me to do this with out making a mess in the process. At Auto zone they sell a flush kit which I purchased along with hose and clamps to step down from the one inch water pump connecting hose “The one that leads to the heater core” to the ½ inch heater core metal pipe. Armed with a cooking thermometer and this nifty flushing tool I made, I used the Valvolen “Sorry about the spelling” Radiator flush sold at AutoZone and followed the instructions as listed on the bottle. Well it seemed to work, after a complete flushing, cleaning of the radiator and adding in new fluid I now have a car that runs at operating temp of between 170-185 F but...
I found that during the flush that there was a silvery substance at the bottom of the bucket. I preyed that it was not my water pump chewing itself up and took it to AutoZone to see if they could identify the substance. TO MY HORROR it was determined to be STOP LEAK!!! “No I did not put it in there” And from what I know about the automotive world this is like adding Calcium to a high-risk heart attack patents diet. The temp seem to be behaving itself and according to the factory spec the temp is now right on and running at the correct temp…
Except… When it turn on the AC and “this is the part that I am confused about” occasionally for some unknown reason the temp will climb to the third bar activating the high speed fans then fighting to stay there for a while then finally dropping back down to normal operating temperature. This happened under normal driving “No hot rodding”
I am left with a couple of possibilities,
1. Valolene sells a complete engine cooling system-cleaning solution that is supposed to remove buildup and scaling within the block itself to reduce heat and create better circulation of water through the block. I am going to try this but I am not sure of one thing. WILL a cleaning solution such as this remove the stop leak from the system, if not is it possible to do so with out pulling the motor out and cleaning it out that way. My thinking on this is that if the stop leak has blocked up or limited the water passage in the block, if it is removed my over heating problems will be completely resolved.
2. This is just a guess, but maybe the thermostat is not fully/correctly opening at the 90 degrees Celsius as it should “Which if my calculations are correct this should be 122 Degrees F” causing the temp to climb till it is fully open then dropping down to the normal operating temp then after cooling closing slightly then repeating the process. In this case assuming the engine flush/cleaning does not resolve the problem I will be in for a job of replacing the thermostat AGAIN uhg!
Does any one have any thoughts they could pitch in on this subject, anyone? This coming Sunday will be the flushing/cleaning so I will have a better idea where things stand at that time. I would like to know what you guys think about that stop leak and cleaning it out of the system. “Other than it is a bad thing please” Well that it for now, Thanks for taking the time to read this post and my small piece of advice to all of you is to NEVER use stop leak EVER!
Later.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
For those of you that have been following my plight, I may have concord this over heating problem in my 87 944 n/a, however, there is one perplexing issue that I cannot seem to over come.
After replacing every sensor in the cooling system as well as the radiator water pump, thermostat as well as checking both fans to ensure proper working order, I still had an over heating problem after all that. 190-200+ F, Too hot for my comfort level, not to mention the gauge in the car was constantly running at third bar. Confused and dismayed I decided to give it one more go with a complete system flush and radiator cleaning. So I set out to build a tool that would allow me to do this with out making a mess in the process. At Auto zone they sell a flush kit which I purchased along with hose and clamps to step down from the one inch water pump connecting hose “The one that leads to the heater core” to the ½ inch heater core metal pipe. Armed with a cooking thermometer and this nifty flushing tool I made, I used the Valvolen “Sorry about the spelling” Radiator flush sold at AutoZone and followed the instructions as listed on the bottle. Well it seemed to work, after a complete flushing, cleaning of the radiator and adding in new fluid I now have a car that runs at operating temp of between 170-185 F but...
I found that during the flush that there was a silvery substance at the bottom of the bucket. I preyed that it was not my water pump chewing itself up and took it to AutoZone to see if they could identify the substance. TO MY HORROR it was determined to be STOP LEAK!!! “No I did not put it in there” And from what I know about the automotive world this is like adding Calcium to a high-risk heart attack patents diet. The temp seem to be behaving itself and according to the factory spec the temp is now right on and running at the correct temp…
Except… When it turn on the AC and “this is the part that I am confused about” occasionally for some unknown reason the temp will climb to the third bar activating the high speed fans then fighting to stay there for a while then finally dropping back down to normal operating temperature. This happened under normal driving “No hot rodding”
I am left with a couple of possibilities,
1. Valolene sells a complete engine cooling system-cleaning solution that is supposed to remove buildup and scaling within the block itself to reduce heat and create better circulation of water through the block. I am going to try this but I am not sure of one thing. WILL a cleaning solution such as this remove the stop leak from the system, if not is it possible to do so with out pulling the motor out and cleaning it out that way. My thinking on this is that if the stop leak has blocked up or limited the water passage in the block, if it is removed my over heating problems will be completely resolved.
2. This is just a guess, but maybe the thermostat is not fully/correctly opening at the 90 degrees Celsius as it should “Which if my calculations are correct this should be 122 Degrees F” causing the temp to climb till it is fully open then dropping down to the normal operating temp then after cooling closing slightly then repeating the process. In this case assuming the engine flush/cleaning does not resolve the problem I will be in for a job of replacing the thermostat AGAIN uhg!
Does any one have any thoughts they could pitch in on this subject, anyone? This coming Sunday will be the flushing/cleaning so I will have a better idea where things stand at that time. I would like to know what you guys think about that stop leak and cleaning it out of the system. “Other than it is a bad thing please” Well that it for now, Thanks for taking the time to read this post and my small piece of advice to all of you is to NEVER use stop leak EVER!
Later.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
07-08-2002, 02:28 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
I'd get a second opinion on that Autozone diagnosis. Also, I understand the stuff is supposed to plug tiny cracks. If that's the case, it probably wouldn't affect cooling passages very much.
07-08-2002, 03:42 PM
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ON that second opinion I agree, SO, I purchased some stop leak and combined it with a small amount of antifreeze. It looked identical. Thanks though I am glad to know that it shouldn’t clog up the passageways. I am hoping the internal engine cleaning this coming weekend with completely resolve this bouncing over heating problem. 
07-08-2002, 03:55 PM
#4
Nordschleife Master
Stop Leak likely won't do much to the larger passages, but the small radiator tubes are another matter and a reason you don't want to use that stuff.
My guess would be that there was a radiator leak. The question is where and if these stronger cooling system cleaners will remove the stop leak and start the leak going again. You usually don't see leaks in the aluminum fin portion of the radiators unless they took a physical hit of some sort like catching a rock. But our radiators have plastic end tanks and those will crack with age and exposure, the only question being when, not if.
If you end up starting a radiator leak, a replacement one from the mail order places isn't too bad in price. For a little less you can take in your old one to a radiator shop and they can rod the core and put new plastic end tanks on. Be almost as good as new.
My guess would be that there was a radiator leak. The question is where and if these stronger cooling system cleaners will remove the stop leak and start the leak going again. You usually don't see leaks in the aluminum fin portion of the radiators unless they took a physical hit of some sort like catching a rock. But our radiators have plastic end tanks and those will crack with age and exposure, the only question being when, not if.
If you end up starting a radiator leak, a replacement one from the mail order places isn't too bad in price. For a little less you can take in your old one to a radiator shop and they can rod the core and put new plastic end tanks on. Be almost as good as new.
07-08-2002, 11:19 PM
#7
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Stop leak will mess up the cooling system on older cars. Trust me. Don't use it. Not ever.
If you have partially blocked/limed up passages, it completes the blockage.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
Thaddeus
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
If you have partially blocked/limed up passages, it completes the blockage.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
Thaddeus
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
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07-08-2002, 11:57 PM
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I've turned into a big fan of the 160' tsat. and low temp. fan switch.Given an older car and a needle constantly between the last white line and the red in the winter, I'm now a happy camper, never above the 1st white line and hot heat.
07-09-2002, 12:05 AM
#9
Race Car
[quote]Originally posted by TaboII:
<strong>This is just a guess, but maybe the thermostat is not fully/correctly opening at the 90 degrees Celsius as it should “Which if my calculations are correct this should be 122 Degrees F </strong><hr></blockquote>
90 C = 194 F
<strong>This is just a guess, but maybe the thermostat is not fully/correctly opening at the 90 degrees Celsius as it should “Which if my calculations are correct this should be 122 Degrees F </strong><hr></blockquote>
90 C = 194 F
