EA82 MPFI 89 running warm

dree · Post by **dree** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:28 am

I've just bought an 89 Touring wagon, it runs warm. I found an old thermostat in the glove box, I guess someone else had a go at it? It doesn't surge warm like a blown head gasket, just always seems to run a lot warmer than my carbed 89 L series, and another 89 touring I drove last night.

Any ideas about common causes?

schultzie · Post by **schultzie** » Tue May 02, 2006 7:05 pm

how good is the coolant in the car? also maby the thermostat is to warm fo the car... try getting a cooler one?

dree · Post by **dree** » Tue May 02, 2006 8:06 pm

Coolant? What Coolant? yeah I guess it's usually the obvious, I'll try those two first, it needs coolant anyway. I just bought it you understand?

mattims · Post by **mattims** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:29 pm

or .. possibly there is no thermostat.. my L would heat up idling with no thermostat and only cool down when i got up to speed again ..

subanator · Post by **subanator** » Tue May 02, 2006 11:45 pm

When I bought mine, the previous owner had the same prob. Bad diagnosis on his part had the motor heads stripped off suspecting the worst.
Turned out it was a blocked radiator all along, even though it looked not too old.
Was to be my advantage anyway as the heads now are machined and new gaskets, valves and belts etc, and a new radiator!
Message here - Check the basics first, like radiator, waterpump etc.

dree · Post by **dree** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:39 am

He's makin a list and checkin it twice!

Coolant

Thermostat

Radiator

Pump

Thanks guys, I just found an old thermostat in the back, so I might start there.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:47 pm

Easiest way to test if the thermostat is causing a problem is remove it altogether. Then theres no way it could be causing a restriction.

Don't leave your car like this tho as it will take too long to come up to normal operating temp in the mornings and cause excess engine wear.

Try getting the thermostat and sticking it in a pot of boiling water on your stove - see if it opens. But for the price of a new one....just get one.

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Wed May 03, 2006 5:57 pm

how many kays that engine done? if its still the same water pump....
if interested I can put up pic of ~180k worn out pump = engine overheating and new pump = engine great yahoo!! to compare to.......

dree · Post by **dree** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:22 pm

It's done 245000, still strong. So you reckon I should put a new pump in it, what happens, does the impeller wear out, or do they gunk up?

Should I stick with a genuine thermostat, or just hit Repco for one?

coupe · Post by **coupe** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:59 pm

I had the same prob in my Vortex.
The radiator was 2/3 rds blocked in various stages.
I removed the left hand tank and rodded the cores myself then replaced the thermostat it still sits 1/2 to 2/3rds but thats a real improvement on the previous 2/3rds to 3/4.
I also cleaned the fins and the air con fins as well.
Cheers Pete

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:34 am

actually the gap is worse than what the pic seems to show...expect that to pump anything?

new

dree · Post by **dree** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:30 am

Thanks for the pics Fred. That sure is worn, I wouldn't have thought, but I guess 180000K = a lot of water, 245000K is a lot more water. I think you may be onto it, cause it seems to get hot most often when I'm in top gear on the highway, especially if there is a few inclines. So I'm going to get stuck into it this weekend, I think I'll do the lot, pull the Radiator out and check it/clean it, check thermostat, pump and some nice fresh coolant.

Other than the cooling, it's such a beautiful drive, so the cooling is really giving me the shits.

I have a new pump for my EA82 carb, is it the same as the MPFI one?

Thanks for all the tips guys.

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EA82 MPFI 89 running warm

EA82 MPFI 89 running warm

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