Overheating Mystery

[elerslie]

Is this the thermostat?

Water is gushing out of overflow when the car warms up. My mechanic put a new thermostat in in a few months ago and Im guessing wrong temp.

Thoughts?


Also - stupid question about the radiator cap... Do I tighten down or leave it without any pressure?

Thanks



Harry

[Alan]

Tighten it down if it is the right one, the early Studes used a longer stem for the rubber seal than newer cars and sometime people will put the wrong one on and get what you are observing.

[Milaca]

The cap on my Hawk was allowing warm coolant to leak out so I bought a new cap from Stude-Intl and that resolved the issue (no more leakage). By the way, what does your temperature gauge say? If it doesnt show hot, then the themostat is fine.


1949 2R17
R is for Rusty
In the middle of Minnesota

[Flashback]

ALAN'S Right, you can have the wrong cap or a bad cap.a local radiator shop can test it. It could possibly be that the
thermostat was put in backward?? Not saying it is!!!!! You
also need to run and check the temperature to see if it is
opening properly.

Tex E. Grier

[Dwain G.]

Are you leaving some room for coolant expansion? You can't fill these radiators all the way, just cover the tubes by a half inch or so.

[elerslie]

IT does run hot. Im going to change the thermostat and get a new cap and see if that stops it. Thanks

Harry

[Jerry Forrester]

quote:Originally posted by elerslie

IT does run hot. Im going to change the thermostat and get a new cap and see if that stops it. Thanks

Harry

Possibly a stopped up radiator. BTDT.

Jerry Forrester
Forrester's Chrome
Douglasville, Georgia

[Milaca]

Has the coolant been flushed out of the cooling system lately? I had to flush a 1963 V8 Wagonaire a couple of times to get the engine to cool. Both times that I flushed it, brown colored water came out. I recently replaced a rusted frost plug on a 1963 Hawk and upon removing the old plug, found large amounts of thick gunk in the cooling passage which would never flush out as it was so thick. I had to dig it out with a screwdriver and piece of heavy wire. You may need to remove a frost plug and see if you have the same junk. If so, remove all frost plugs, clean it out, and put in new plugs.


1949 2R17
R is for Rusty
In the middle of Minnesota

[elerslie]

As I thought - mechanic put thermo in upside down plus used a 180 dgree. Ugh.

Harry

[maxpower1954]

quote:Originally posted by elerslie

As I thought - mechanic put thermo in upside down plus used a 180 dgree. Ugh.

Harry

Which is why to the maximum extent possible, based on ability and time every Studebaker owner should do his own work. I learned this many years ago when my trusted "mechanic" never actually checked the oil level in my wife's 5-speed tranny Corolla, and it burned up.

Russ Farris

1963 GT Hawk R-2 4-speed
1964 Avanti R-1 Auto

[N8N]

upside down? it's the same thermostat as a Chrysler and installs in the same orientation.

I believe the stock temp 'stat in earlier cars was 160 degree which ought to be available; I don't really have a problem with using a 180 stat in a later car as stock temp was 170 and your only choices now are 160 or 180. I probably wouldn't use one in an R-engine though. Engine probably runs better at a higher temp, but on the flip side would be more prone to detonation.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
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