Overheating in traffic

[3two8eye]

I have a 1991 318is and I am experiencing an overheating problem.

Symptoms:
Car operates at normal temp while moving.
When stopped in traffic the gauge creeps up (to just shy of the red, although if I sit long enough I suppose it would) until I start moving again.
Then the temp drops back to normal quickly.


This sounds like a fan issue of some sort to me. What is the most common place to start? Fan clutch? Or is there other checks I should do first.

I tried searching both here and e30tech and couldn't find this problem.


Thanks, Tyler

[lifestyle101]

replace the radiator

[txleadfoot]

roll up some newspaper and put it in the fan while running. if it stops, replace the fan clutch. if it shreds the paper, start looking elsewhere.

[n2motorsports]

swapping out my thermostat fixed the same problem, but could be other things too, like the bypass off the heater core. does your heater blow hot air?

[3two8eye]

I'll check these things out. Thanks for the suggestions