engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

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engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

October 16, 2015, 10:35:32 AM

I drove from clarion & Lock haven pa where I have projects going and when I got close to Lewisburg wv, I noticed I was chilly.

I had the blower up on defrost like I normally do for heat and I felt the air,,, it was almost ice cold. my temp gauge said all was normal but my gut feeling was that I "just recently developed a leak" and so continued to monitor the temp gauge. through heavy hills and such the temp stayed great,, full digital dash showing 4 bars as normal.

I got to Lewisburg and pull into the Go Mart, stopped the car and listened for a min for that sound I didn't want to hear but it never came. I popped the hood and felt very little heat radiating from the motor.

I felt the upper hose and it felt rock solid,, like air being trapped, it was rather cold.
I felt the lower hose and it was cold
I felt the upper part of the radiator and it was only luke warm
I felt the lower part of the radiator and it was bone cold
I felt the heater core hoses and they were cold

I decided that I got lucky over the past 380 miles and if there is a lack of water, then the heater core is just up too high to get any water in it,, although none of the above list I just made was making sense.

I gently released radiator pressure by taking off the cap and to my amazement coolant was purging out on the ground. I added what amounted to maybe a few shot glasses of coolant in but for the sake of this conversation the coolant was *NOT * low.
I put my finger down into the coolant and it was just luke warm
I felt the engine itself and it was almost like a cold motor,, I was not able to get burnt by touching things,, even the exhaust headers I was able to touch.

I know this all sounds rather impossible but it happened,, and its winter so I will need heat.

so....... where is the problem.?

One side of me says nothing is broke because the motor is running just fine. Its almost like a zombie motor, its got 280k , perhaps its a walking dead problem?

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #1 – October 16, 2015, 02:33:59 PM

Thermostat stuck open?

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #2 – October 16, 2015, 05:13:42 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;451787

Thermostat stuck open?

Only logical answer...

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #3 – October 16, 2015, 05:18:52 PM

But how in the hell could he touch the headers?????????

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #4 – October 16, 2015, 09:49:05 PM

Ill check that tomorrow,,

if its stuck open,, then with the rad cap off, it should be flowing water constantly ,,

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #5 – October 17, 2015, 05:06:41 PM

well, I think I figured it out.

may be a combination of things.

First, I took the cap off this morning and looked down inside the rad, it appeared "kinda low" so I was able to fit about a quart ... not really low in my book.

next I started up the car and watched, the fluid did not move out of the fins on the interior of the radiator so that told me the tstat isn't stuck open.

I put check the overflow tank and something seemed odd... it was plum full all the way up the long skinny neck but shy of a couple inches from the tip top!

so... I put the cap back on because seeing this gave me an idea....
I started up the car and yup! sure enough as the car heated, the overflow tank was trickling over.

so,, in short, i replaced my rad cap and we will see what happens on the next road trip.

for other matters... my upper half of my radiator is warm and the lower half is staying cold even with a new cap.

It may be time for a new radiator,, but with this being said im not really sure why its not overheating instead.

oh well.. zombies i say!!

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #6 – October 19, 2015, 06:16:38 PM

looks like the radiator cap did not Heat me up better so,, i got to thinking.

back when i did my heater core change, i did install a small socket inside the supply line side.

Im wondering if the socket little square end is now partially clogged up.

i cant remember but i think the socket i stuffed inside the hose was 3/8'' drive.

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #7 – October 19, 2015, 06:46:06 PM

I had a geo metro with similar symptoms and it was a blown head gasket. Combustion air was getting into the coolant path and pushing it out into the overflow.

May or may not be your situation, but I figured I'd throw that out there. Any bubbles in the radiator when the engine is running?

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #8 – October 19, 2015, 08:56:36 PM

Quote from: thunderjet302;451787

Thermostat stuck open?

Doesn't that make the engine overheat due to the water being cooled in the radiator just passes through with no time to cool down?
That's what I've heard.

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #9 – October 20, 2015, 10:56:56 AM

Quote from: Thunderbird88;451824

Doesn't that make the engine overheat due to the water being cooled in the radiator just passes through with no time to cool down?
That's what I've heard.

Just an old wive's tale.

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #10 – October 20, 2015, 02:04:44 PM

Quote from: jcassity;451797

well, I think I figured it out.

may be a combination of things.

First, I took the cap off this morning and looked down inside the rad, it appeared "kinda low" so I was able to fit about a quart ... not really low in my book.

next I started up the car and watched, the fluid did not move out of the fins on the interior of the radiator so that told me the tstat isn't stuck open.

I put check the overflow tank and something seemed odd... it was plum full all the way up the long skinny neck but shy of a couple inches from the tip top!

so... I put the cap back on because seeing this gave me an idea....
I started up the car and yup! sure enough as the car heated, the overflow tank was trickling over.

so,, in short, i replaced my rad cap and we will see what happens on the next road trip.

for other matters... my upper half of my radiator is warm and the lower half is staying cold even with a new cap.

It may be time for a new radiator,, but with this being said im not really sure why its not overheating instead.

oh well.. zombies i say!!

Radiator plugged? If it's factory original it might be.

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #11 – October 21, 2015, 05:30:47 PM

Im still not sure how he could touch the headers and not be "hot".

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #12 – October 21, 2015, 07:36:08 PM

im still not getting enough heat in the cabin,,
as for the headers I think personally im gifted with lots of extra skin I guess,, dono but just now again, the engine is oddly cool and the headers ,, well seems still to be oddly cool.,, yet I do have very thick working hands (skin that is so maybe its just me).

I am leaning on my heater core restrictor is clogged up a tad so I am home now,, ill see about this and ping you all back.

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #13 – January 19, 2016, 10:41:47 PM

well race fans,, i changed my radiator and no dice,, same problem.

finally i lowered myself to taking the car in to the ford dealer in Clarion pa. told my story, tech took old girl back.

did some tests, checking this and that and pressure testing ect.

he said my tstat is staying open, yeah i knew that. Told me my lower part of the rad was cold and upper half hot.,, yea knew that to. He told me that all my dash readings look ok and that for the most part he's not seeing a problem other than its doing the opposite of what it should be.,, it should overheat.

He handed me a piece of cardboard and told me to put it infront of the radiator this winter and instructed me to get that car out of here because he has no clue why its not over heating because it should be.

so... i quickly realized i was dealing with someone who didn't like getting his ass kicked and especially since he was the oldest and most respected guy there, he brought up a topic that i saw here not too long ago by a member "who's name shall not be spoken". I am suspecting the water pump fins are corroded away and mostly absent.,, basically partial water pump circulation but not enough.

that would answer so many questions have had. .... so... with all this wonderful weather we are having im going to take full advantage of getting bundled up in all my north pole gear to enjoy the activity of doing a pump. Perhaps i will do it right after i turn off the car so at the least i will have some warmth.
the garage if full right now with the other cougar build.

i thought it was funny i got handed a piece of cardboard as my solution the problem.. LOL

engine running too cool *solved- installed non failsafe tstat

Reply #14 – January 19, 2016, 11:04:32 PM

I'm confused, why didn't you replace the t-stat?