Heating up in traffic - cooling system questions

[328ijunkie]

Are both fans running on high speed when youre sitting in traffic? Stock 91/99C fan switch isnt ideal i would say.

[superleggeram3]

Not sure if this help as I dont live in a hot climate but I used a e36 m3 mishimoto rad and kenlowe 16" fan on my s54 track car swap - havent had any issues at all stopped or on the move.

I also run waterless coolant and have a s54 mishimoto oil cooler which probably help.

[rjmcdermott81]

This was on my s52 swap, but i had similar issues. I had an m42 radiator with a 16 inch puller and when I put A/C in it was heating up more than I was comfortable with. I switched to a Mishimoto radiator and because of the extra thickness I switched to two separate pullers - an 8 and 10 inch I believe. After that change my temps were much more under control. I'm in Austin so it's hot here as well.


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[diesekte]

Stock aux fan, 16 slim SPAL pusher between engine and radiator. 89k mi S54 water pump and thermostat. E30 M20 manual rad with stock temp switch...150k(?) on both of those. Using the E30 brown plug in the Technica water pipe adapter - it seems to be grounded well as gauge is not jumpy at all.

I live in Texas and run the AC all the time, but my AC is pretty cold so I don't always have it all the way up.
Around town and on the freeway, I am almost always 3/8ths of the way up. After extended driving I will get to 1/2 (straight up) and when I get there for the most part it stays there.

When I am in extended stop and go or standstill traffic, the gauge will creep up to 3/4ths - I have never seen it go higher than that. When I had my M52 I would creep up in standstill/stop and go to maybe 5/8ths of the way. When I start moving again, even if only 20-30mph, the gauge drops back to dead center after only a few minutes.
The only constant I see between my M52 and S54 is the radiator, but it doesn't appear to be clogged or damaged. I'm definitely not leaking coolant (30/70 antifreeze/distilled water and 1 bottle of water wetter).

Aux fan seems it could definitely turn smoother but spins freely without any odd noises. I am on my 3rd resister in the last year or so, which makes me think maybe the aux fan motor is going out, causing too much drag, and burning up the resisters. Aux will come on with AC on but it doesn't seem to activate unless AC is on. Admittedly I have never gotten out and checked when the gauge is reading 3/4ths...

I've never had a problem bleeding the system so I don't think I'm having a big air pocket

1) Any insight? Anyone with similar issues?
2) If I go to the Koyo aluminum radiator, will that fit with this swap? Core is thicker than stock and there is maybe only an ass hair of clearance between the SPAL and the water pump pulley as it is