getting hot on highway help/idea\'s
Turbo Mini Forums

i just need to fix 2 small problems. then blower time.

the car seems to slowly creep up on the temp gauge on the highway.

i don't understand why? i thought maybe a small front mount rad will fix the problem, i think it could be a tuning problem and im masking the problem.

i can sit idle in traffic all day every day, go around booting it no worries around the 0 to 80km mark no problems, once i hit over 90km/100km on the highway it starts to creep up to more then 3/4, it normally wont move from under halfway.

i run a thermo fan i was thinking maybe it could be timing & tuning? thermo fan? i use a kenlow fan thats a uprated motor item.

was still getting this problem with the mech fan but not as quick as now.

so if i run my car on the ''dizzy'' it seems to run hotter, running my car on mega jolt with a 266 cam map or a 1380std map i got from the net it runs cooler & does not creep up as far or as quick.

heat is about 35 36 in australia at the moment it's peak, but i don't have any traffic over heating problems at all sits just under halfway all day.

the engine has only done 18,000km

when first set up she was spot on, then i had blower ideas took engine out, new balancer etc then the mechanic was guessing timing as it had no mark on the pulley since then it has run hotter.

it's all new, i know there is no blocks,new thermo stat new head new head gasket as i have a lovely turbo phill head, replaced all gaskets, when i set up for blower new timing chain also timed dot to dot, i do not run a oil cooler the plugs seem very black though running rich? i feel it is timing or tune, won;t run nice on 6 plugs have to run 5's cooler right?

one last thing i had no timing mark on my balancer so i had to do the piston & pencil trick to try find TDC.

im thinking that im not quite spot on with the timing & it is advancing to much on the highway? combined with tune.

im getting a new balancer next week so i can change it over with a proper timing mark for the sc12. not sure why i had no mark, originally.

not sure what to look at or if when i dyno ( rolling road it) it all will be sorted.

i will get some one to look at it to be tuned though, it's not a problem yet but it could be say if i was to go on a long trip.

im also running a mini spares 2 core super rad had the chinese alloy one & did not make to much difference but it's seems better cooling.

any idea would be lovely.

Edited by NickG on 21st Jan, 2011.

Sounds like a combination of timing issues and temperature (ambient).

A session on the rollers and or an aux rad sound the ticket to me!

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know

ok thanks scruffy i think that is the problem.. very long winded explanation but i wanted to be clear.

If you're fine in traffic, which often is the hardest place to keep cool.

Then there is an airflow issue with your radiator when the car is driving.

But you dont indicate what setup you have ? side, front, std, aftermarket ?

What size waterpump pulley ? only electric fan or mechanical too ?

What way is air ducted to/from the rad ?

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

How big is your pulley? Perhaps try the bigger style ones? Maybe at high revs the water is passing through the rad too quicky.....

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

right well. i put the alloy rad in to see if it would change my problem & i over heated badly on the highway, boiling over, I was miles from home the water was boiling away & steaming & pinking hard lossing power, i stressed & turned the ignition off on highway & coasted it to the side slowly at about 110km 300$ tow later..

i was so scared i damaged my engine I left the thermo fan on for a good 20mines to cool down.

so today i put the mini spares 2core one in i had & put the mechanical fan back in with my thermo fan new coolant & water weter as well.

started her up & she purred perfectly thank god!!

the cooling is now sitting not even 1 quarter.

so what have i worked out?

those chinese alloy radiators are a piece of shit & don't work for me at all, either mine is just faulty or it's a rubbish design.

the mechanical fan is just to good & wont work with just the thermo fan.

i tried to change the system but it did not work for me.

ill leave it as it is now & keep testing.

I made a $300 mistake and ill wear, it could have been alot worse though.

Hi pissed of that piece of poo poo chinese rad.

stupid thing was making my car over heat, so many problems.

so now i'm at ease, my car is running like a dream & i'm using a 2 core mini spares super cool rad.

now it's odd but the car is running to cool? it's confusing really.

the gauge now wont read even a quarter of the way, with this new rad in.

one think i know is my thermo fan is coming on to early & i will address that tomorrow.

but has anyone had a this before?

i mixed the coolant correctly with demineralized water & used water wetter also.

i have the correct thermostat etc also.

just seems to be running very cool lol.
in saying that car is running alot better more torque now & alot smother.

any ideas.