going down the road fast, the forward movement creats tons of cool air.
fan clutch is not going to keep this engine cool on any average cold day. Never.
its only 1.6 liters and the radiator is huge in comparison.
It's for worse case, hot air, heavy load, and going way too slow . (fan clutch)
that guage test is not calibration avalidation check it is only a GO -NO GO test.
I want you to know if you took 100 trackers all at 200 degress F coolant temp.
all new parts , every one will read different, all. ( it is a very crude tool )
like a kids lunch box ruler compared to a machines calibers.
the IR Gun will tell the truth every time. accurate to Plus or minus 1 C, on most.
i need the following
never overheats idling?
only overheats while driving fast.
when does go high, and when does it never go high.
important to know that.
when it gets hot , get a reading of the stat housing immediately.
if it is REALLY hot:?
clogged rad, tubes , ones you cant see, IR gun can find that in a jiffy.
the gun is faboulous at finding clogged tubes.
head gasket leaking to water jacket.?
new thermostat is no good, happens many times, especially the cheap ones. from china.
Is the igniton timing way off? check it, or was it and you found it and changed it.?
if timing is off , tons of heat will be sent the coolant.
retarded timing, = massive heat to the coolant and out the exhaust.
You have not mention ambient temperature , Inuvik or Miami? it's a big world.
over heating in the winter?
clutch fan ( the fsm says , off top of head it is RPM based ,not thermal as some are)
I have never seen a car that was bad ( real overheating) that Did NOT produce 1 more real symptom of over heating or Extra gasses , in tail pipe , steam when hot or steam for
exhaust gasses shooting into coolant tank or , as the engine gets really hot
it WILL PING , rattel , rattle.
if you will tell me what geography you reside in , we might be able to help you.
if you like in the USA, just go down to the local harbor freight and buy that $19.95
IR gun, then next time , point it at the stat house and report.
I will never in my life ever , trust a OEM guage in any car,
Learned that hard lesson, in 1965.
One guy here posting a few months back , replaced everything, spent a fortune.
turned out to be a bad thermostat , ( new one was no good)
$11 but spent $1000.00
In the electronics business we call that guage a toy. that is all it is.
could you please tell us what you are driving ?
1992
Geo tracker , ok
8v or 16v, auto or manual , 2dr or 4dr, 5sp, 3sp/4sp automatic.
would be nice to know what your really are driving, cuz they are all different.
does car have air condtioning, is the front condensor full of dirt or trash?
give us more data , and your answers will get way better.
one test for a so called car that over heats.
just let it idle, is should never over heat. < a test,
Overheat means, water or gas barking in the coolant recovery bottle, steam, etc.
if it does the radiator is too small (clogged) or the engine is putting out too much heat.
my kick will idle till the tank is dry ,any day of the year. 90deg ,F max here.
THE magical IR gun will rule out bad RAD (flushing tells us nothing, it works 10% or none)
if the IR passes ! the core test then , put in a new thermostat as soon as you validate the ignition timing to be spot on.
if timing is OFF, then stop and do this:
1: if 16v panic and do not drive it. , check the timing belt for slippage
2: if 8v , feel safe and take time and check TBelt check.
timing NEVER goes off on the DIZZY unless the belt slips a cog.
Never. ( well as long as someone didnt mess with it, and only you know that)
One guy here claimed over heat,
but refused to pull the rad cap and look in the RAD, sure enough it was almost dry.
cool engine and check. ( never pull cap hot , please do NOT)
remember all cars must be burped the second day or soon after a fresh fill.
TRAPPED AIR will cause the gauge to go berserk ( up and down, up and down)
that is all i can think of.
here is more.
overheating
1992 Geo Tracker temp guage problem?
Linear Mode
