The OFFICIAL let's make Erick's M30 stop overheating thread

[ForcedFirebird]

I would start with a lower temp t-stat, or drilling a few holes in it. The new owner of Brian's car drilled his, and it's running tits now.

EDIT: BTW, the neck looks much better today!

[Erick]

lol why is that? This is a personal battle between M30s and I.

Anywho, to give some insight on that video that John posted, we did a burnout to see how the car would react after the coolant flush in a "no-airflow" (drifting-like) scenario. The temperature went from about 195 to 210 in during the burnout. (About 15 seconds)

After the video was cut off, we let the car sit for about 10 minutes while still running and the temperature dropped to 205deg. So it seems like it's holding better now, but it's still taking way too long to cool it off.

After thinking for a long time, this will have to do for now. But future plans will either involve going back to an M20 on boost with a clutch fan, or doing a rear mount radiator setup on the M30. Either of those will happen in the near future hopefully, depending on what ends up sounding more cost effective.

- E

[bataangpinoy]

damn erick... im scared to start my car because of you guys.

my drifting buddy was taking off the alternator from my motor and i heard a loud crash. he put my engine on the ground but luckily it fell on some word, a distributor and a plastic box....

[ForcedFirebird]

We did this for educational purposes...

[ForcedFirebird]

Well the car is trying to claim lives!!!!! Saw a hose clamp not quite right, and tried to adjust it and I got a face full of hot coolant :( Things we do for friends...

[ForcedFirebird]

Just for shit's and giggles, have you tried flushing the block? When you were here the other night, we back-flushed Brian's car, then regular flush, then back-flush etc etc for a couple hours before it would hold temp. You might just have debris/rust in a coolant passage like he did. Both of you run straight water and that corrodes the block exponentially faster than with coolant.

Yeah, Danny, that was my suggestion after we kept messing around with both cars that night.

[Erick]

I think that's what's its coming down to, even though the head is fine when they looked at it through the machine shop.

I am slowly thinking that somehow it is the block that is messed up, which sucks considering the amount of money I just dropped in it with head gasket, studs, machining costs, and a shitload of misc costs that added up MUCH higher than I expected

[Danny]

Cracked head/block?

[Erick]

It's a brand new headgasket!! Just like the one I pulled was still in brand new shape. My overheating issues were never the headgasket to begin with.

I checked the head torque and everything checked out fine too.

As for the fan, I have been hesitant of running with it off. On the highway, I'll turn the fan off, and it'll seem to run just a bit cooler with the fan ON, but I'm still at around 190 while driving on the highway. (Mind you, that highway cruising temp will vary from 190-200 depending on the outside temperature)

I double checked my fan wiring at John's shop, and except for a loose connector (that I fixed into position properly so it wouldn't disconnect) all was good.

[LowR3V'in]

I guess check the headgasket next? :(

One last question. Does the gauge needle move at all when you turn the fan on/off?
Mine would read alittle hotter once the fan was running because a shitty ground.

[Erick]

Unlikely, since if it was jammed, it would never hold a temperature. The car holds temperature while on the highway at speeds (or cruising above 30-40mph).

If the radiator comes out (for whatever reason), I'll pull the thermostat out. With the little clearance I have now, to remove the T-Stat I need to pull the radiator completely out of the car.

[bataangpinoy]

i know that your not supposed to do this, but try taking out your thermostat.
maybe its jammed shut?

[Erick]

Well, the thermostat and pump are brand new. And no, the car will heat up faster if I rev it out.

[LowR3V'in]

Do temps go back down if you rev it out or just let it engine brake?

My temps goes down like 5f if let it sit for a while and just do some runs or
some high rpm engine braking. I think it's probably a slow reacting thermostat, or old
water pump.

[Erick]

Its all good boss. No worries with the long explanations. Trust me when I say that at this point, i'm reading all suggestions carefully :p

I will still take a look, although on a new radiator, it's kinda tough to believe it's clogged. I should be able to take a look tomm.