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running a little warm


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1989 4.0 still closed cooling system. all within the past year i have replaced thermostat, water pump, all hoses and the radiator. ive bled the system atleast 10 times. it has always warmed up to around 240* then backed down to 210* and stayed there. lately it keeps going back and forth between 210*and 240* usually staying around 220*-230* biggest temp increase is going up hills. i know 220* isnt bad but it wasnt always like this. next thing i was going to replace is the clutch fan. i kno there was a write up recently about the fan but i couldnt find it. am i correct in that it should be hard to spin when hot and easier to spin when cold? if anyone has a different idea I'm listening.

thanks for your help,

Tim

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1989 4.0 still closed cooling system. all within the past year i have replaced thermostat, water pump, all hoses and the radiator. ive bled the system atleast 10 times. it has always warmed up to around 240* then backed down to 210* and stayed there. lately it keeps going back and forth between 210*and 240* usually staying around 220*-230* biggest temp increase is going up hills. i know 220* isnt bad but it wasnt always like this. next thing i was going to replace is the clutch fan. i kno there was a write up recently about the fan but i couldnt find it. am i correct in that it should be hard to spin when hot and easier to spin when cold? if anyone has a different idea I'm listening.

thanks for your help, Tim

 

Had this same problem awhile back with my stock engine. Replaced everything in the coolant system. Turned out to be a clogged cat.

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i don't think the gauge is off and the temp sender is new also. i really think the fan is shot. i can easily spin it while either hot or cold. its a different car but the fan on my dads expedition doesnt turn nearly this easy.

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I found it when I was repairing my exhaust system. When I unbolted the cat front flange and looked in, the inlet was clogged with a gummy tar looking mung. Pulled the cat and replaced it with a CarSound freeflow cat, overheating problems went away. If you have over 100K or so and still have the original cat, it's most likely shot.

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The stock temperature gauges are junk and not calibrated. To find out what your temperature really is, point a laser thermometer at the thermostat housing.

 

I agree. You can buy one at autozone for $20. Make sure it's getting hot first before you start replacing unnecessary parts like I did.

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When mine decided to run hot a few years ago I went through the same thing until I realized that the reverse rotation fan clutch that I got off of Ebay just might be standard rotation. So I went to a local parts store and bought one with the counterclockwise arrow still printed on it. Since then I've run with the gage nailed at 190 in any kind of weather. I assume the 1989 belt is a microgroove serpentine too which requires a reverse rotation fan clutch, just make sure it is.

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