cooling issues/ water pump upgrade

[irishpwr46]

im having some serious cooling issues, bad enough to cause the engine to start breaking up and stuttering. i am getting temps in excess of 220*. i did the fan relay, and replaced the thermostat. i also drilled some small holes in the new thermostat to make sure that coolant is getting through. now im thinking i should try the water pump. has anyone upgraded theirs with either the edelbrock or sr performance? is it worth trying or should i go with a radiator as well? im very limited with space because of the supercharger piping.

 

[Department Of Boost]

The stock pumps work GREAT! Unless it isn't working that isn't your problem.

 

[irishpwr46]

Im hoping its an air bubble that's causing the issues

 

[Department Of Boost]

Im hoping its an air bubble that's causing the issues

I have never, ever had an issue "burping" the system on these cars. They are fantastic as far as that goes.

If you get on the freeway and just drive at 65-70mph what temps does it make? What temp T-stat do you have?

 

[Kylar]

Might help if you list your mods, and mileage. You shouldnt have to do any of those mods unless you are pushing serious horsepower.

Something in your coolant system isnt working properly. Have you checked your radiator for flow? Does the fan come on and off like it should? When is the last time the coolant was changed? Any odd noises? etc.

We need more info to help you.

 

[irishpwr46]

Its an intercooled Paxton supercharged 3v

 

[Department Of Boost]

If you get on the freeway and just drive at 65-70mph what temps does it make? What temp T-stat do you have?

 

[07 Boss]

I have a 180* T-stat and Meziere electric. My temp gauge has never gone up to the halfway point where it used to sit when stock. It is always 1 notch below that. In fact I've seen my gauge go down as I sit idling in the staging lanes.

The nice thing about an electric is it is flowing full force when there is no air flowing and will help keep it cooler when you need it the most.

 

[Department Of Boost]

I have a 180* T-stat and Meziere electric. My temp gauge has never gone up to the halfway point where it used to sit when stock. It is always 1 notch below that. In fact I've seen my gauge go down as I sit idling in the staging lanes.

The nice thing about an electric is it is flowing full force when there is no air flowing and will help keep it cooler when you need it the most.

I put an electric on my 2007 and noticed no improvement. None, nada, zilch.

The only use I can see it having is that you can run the water pump with the car off (with a generator or something).

 

[07 Boss]

I put an electric on my 2007 and noticed no improvement. None, nada, zilch.

The only use I can see it having is that you can run the water pump with the car off (with a generator or something).

And we could have seen a decrease in cylinder head temps with just the lower thermostat, but I know the dropping of temp in the staging lanes has got to be from the increased flow at idle. Wish I would have done some empirical data testing but it has always been my experience that electric pumps have kept my motors cooler overall than mechanical ones.

And yes I have run the pumps (intercooler too) in conjunction with the high speed fans when hot lapping at the track. Seems like I can do a run about every 15-20 minutes without any heat soak issues. You do need a jump box handy, just in case.

 

[irishpwr46]

Stock 194* thermostat replacement. Cruising on the highway it fluctuates from 195- 220

I'm trying to make sure there's no air in the system right now

Also, my upper radiator hose looked like it was sucked shut when it was parked the other day. Like there was a vacuum in the system

 

[JeremyH]

If its doing it while cruising looks like the system is air bound. I have worked on my system 5-6 times and always self bled never any issues getting the air out, this last time when I put the twins on car was overheating and took me almost 2 weeks to get all the air out.

Also idiot check, t-stat isn't upside down is it.

 

[irishpwr46]

If its doing it while cruising looks like the system is air bound. I have worked on my system 5-6 times and always self bled never any issues getting the air out, this last time when I put the twins on car was overheating and took me almost 2 weeks to get all the air out.

Also idiot check, t-stat isn't upside down is it.

thermostat is definitely in the right way. i double and triple checked that. i did let it run for about twenty minutes with the radiator cap off, and i "milked" the upper radiator hose to make sure to get the fluid into it. it did feel empty for the first couple minutes. i let it sit with the air conditioner running and it never went over 196*. side question, is the fan supposed to come on with the a/c?

 

[Department Of Boost]

And we could have seen a decrease in cylinder head temps with just the lower thermostat, but I know the dropping of temp in the staging lanes has got to be from the increased flow at idle. Wish I would have done some empirical data testing but it has always been my experience that electric pumps have kept my motors cooler overall than mechanical ones.

And yes I have run the pumps (intercooler too) in conjunction with the high speed fans when hot lapping at the track. Seems like I can do a run about every 15-20 minutes without any heat soak issues. You do need a jump box handy, just in case.

At the track with backup power I can totally see having an electric. That is originally why I put mine on.

Stock 194* thermostat replacement. Cruising on the highway it fluctuates from 195- 220

Dats not right^^^^^^^

Have you recently made any changes?

 

[irishpwr46]

nothing besides burning out the stock fan relay and having to rewire it. im thinking im chasing a big bubble

 

[07 Boss]

At the track with backup power I can totally see having an electric. That is originally why I put mine on.

And so you wouldn't put on in a daily? I'm a firm believer that it just benefits to have more water flowing all the time. I know some folks will mention reliability but I've had both mechanical and electric pumps fail on me. More mechanical because I had more cars with them vs electric. I go through more belts (Whipple) than anything and if I had to, I could probably drive my car 25-40 miles on the battery if I snapped a belt and not have to worry about overheating. I kinda think it's one of the best simple mods to do for a daily or track car, but that's just me.

And I really wouldn't get stuck with a bad belt. I always have a spare and a small pry bar in the trunk.

nothing besides burning out the stock fan relay and having to rewire it. im thinking im chasing a big bubble

And OP, it sounds like a big bubble somewhere. It shouldn't fluctuate like that.

 

[Department Of Boost]

And so you wouldn't put on in a daily?

I'm not saying there is any negative to doing it (aside from paying for it). The electrics work great. I just think it is not worth the time, money or trouble. I have no issue with the function at all.

And OP, it sounds like a big bubble somewhere. It shouldn't fluctuate like that.

This^^^^^