So I replaced the head and head gasket after I bought my 98 wagon. Decided to take it to the Sierra Nevada mtns and Yosemite. The car drove all the way here without a hitch.
A/C blowing the whole time, cruising along at 80+ was great.
Then I get to an altitude of about 8K feet and when doing big hill climbs (engine at 4500 RPM constantly) with 5 people in the car, and AC blowing, the temp needle climbs to the red, until I kill the A/C and drop the RPM's below 4500.
When I refilled the rad, I used about 25% cooland and 75% water, could this be it? Or maybe I have air bubbles. WHo knows, any ideas?
I have topped off the expansion tank a few times, but I dont think that its leaking anywhere, since I havent found any spots or drips. THere is no coolant in the oil or vice versa. I know that I never fully filled it, so that was that!
Water pump was replaced with head, all hoses are fine and were checked over. I just need to know where to look next.
thanks in advance
Lucas
98 v90 temp rising at altitude?!?!!?
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Kmaniac in California USA
- Posts: 301
- Joined: 15 January 2005
- Year and Model:
- Location: Concord, California USA
- Been thanked: 1 time
What was the ambient air temperature outside of the car at the time it overheated? Was it a cool 60 F morning (as is typical for the region) or a 90+ F afternoon (still typical for the region this time of year)?
Chris the "K MANIAC"
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
higher altitude means less oxygen. less oxygen means less chance for engine to breathe properly and will lead to heat. but you need to really be climbing some major mountain and running for a long time to have overheating problems. you would also notice performance degredation...like it your air filter was totally clogged up and not passing anything through the air box
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Kmaniac in California USA
- Posts: 301
- Joined: 15 January 2005
- Year and Model:
- Location: Concord, California USA
- Been thanked: 1 time
Let's review this situation again.
Car at 8,000+ feet altitute.
Outside temperature at 100+ F
Car fully loaded with five passengers.
Car under load (climbing hill) at 4,500 rpm constant.
A/C in car operating at full blast.
25%/75% coolant to water mixture.
I hate to break this to you, my friend, but all those conditions together are a recipe for overheating an engine.
Water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes. A new pressure cap for the cooling system may have helped if the one on there now is old.
A 50%/50% mix of coolant to water is preferred. This mixture has a better heat transfer rate and may have helped a little here.
The hotter it is outside, the less effective the radiator is at rejecting heat. Also, if the radiator is older, there may be partially blocked tubes on the inside (blocked by internal corrosion) or partially blocked fins on the outside (bugs, weeds, dirt or other road debris). If you make trips like this one a habit, I would suggest a new radiator with more cooling capacity. And if you do replace the radiator, get an "all metal" replacement.
An engine under a continuous load at high rpm's will generate more heat that one operating at low load at low rpm's.
The air conditioner works by removing heat from the car interior, passing that heat chemically through the refrigerant, then rejecting it at the condenser, the radiator for the air conditioner. The condenser is mounted in front of the engine radiator. During that hill climb, the 100 F outside air first passed through the A/C condenser, heating it to approximately 140 F. Then, that preheated air passed through your engine radiator. The hotter the air that enters the radiator, the less the coolant is cooled by that air. That's why, on Highway 17 between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, you see those signs that say "Prevent boilover, turn off A/C".
Again, if you make trips like that one a habit, I would suggest a new radiator. But if that combination of circumstances was a one time occurance, leave it alone and turn off the A/C when you are climbing hills next time or the temperature gauge spikes.
If you have anymore questions about this, let me know.
Car at 8,000+ feet altitute.
Outside temperature at 100+ F
Car fully loaded with five passengers.
Car under load (climbing hill) at 4,500 rpm constant.
A/C in car operating at full blast.
25%/75% coolant to water mixture.
I hate to break this to you, my friend, but all those conditions together are a recipe for overheating an engine.
Water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes. A new pressure cap for the cooling system may have helped if the one on there now is old.
A 50%/50% mix of coolant to water is preferred. This mixture has a better heat transfer rate and may have helped a little here.
The hotter it is outside, the less effective the radiator is at rejecting heat. Also, if the radiator is older, there may be partially blocked tubes on the inside (blocked by internal corrosion) or partially blocked fins on the outside (bugs, weeds, dirt or other road debris). If you make trips like this one a habit, I would suggest a new radiator with more cooling capacity. And if you do replace the radiator, get an "all metal" replacement.
An engine under a continuous load at high rpm's will generate more heat that one operating at low load at low rpm's.
The air conditioner works by removing heat from the car interior, passing that heat chemically through the refrigerant, then rejecting it at the condenser, the radiator for the air conditioner. The condenser is mounted in front of the engine radiator. During that hill climb, the 100 F outside air first passed through the A/C condenser, heating it to approximately 140 F. Then, that preheated air passed through your engine radiator. The hotter the air that enters the radiator, the less the coolant is cooled by that air. That's why, on Highway 17 between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, you see those signs that say "Prevent boilover, turn off A/C".
Again, if you make trips like that one a habit, I would suggest a new radiator. But if that combination of circumstances was a one time occurance, leave it alone and turn off the A/C when you are climbing hills next time or the temperature gauge spikes.
If you have anymore questions about this, let me know.
Chris the "K MANIAC"
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
1986 740 GLE
(5) 1964 Chrysler 300-K's
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volvoaddict007
- Posts: 195
- Joined: 24 July 2007
- Year and Model: 760 Turbo
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
HOLY TOLEDO !!!
I'm just curious now...
A) Would 5 passengers mean 6 persons with the driver. Were the passengers small chidren ( 50 lbs. x 5 + 150lb driver =400lbs ) or average American male adults ( 200 lbs. x 6 = 1200lbs.
)
B) 90-110F
C) 8000 ft.+
D ) 4500 +rpm CONSTANT UPHILL
( for how long ? )
E ) 25 % antifreeze that never tops off.
( where's it going? )
and last but not least...
F ) The A/C blowin' Full Blast !!!
I see a VOLVO commercial in the making. Not trying to bust anyone's chops. Just having some fun in my graphic artist sort of way. I really would like to know more about A), D) and E).
I'm just curious now...
A) Would 5 passengers mean 6 persons with the driver. Were the passengers small chidren ( 50 lbs. x 5 + 150lb driver =400lbs ) or average American male adults ( 200 lbs. x 6 = 1200lbs.
)B) 90-110F
C) 8000 ft.+
D ) 4500 +rpm CONSTANT UPHILL
( for how long ? )E ) 25 % antifreeze that never tops off.
( where's it going? )and last but not least...
F ) The A/C blowin' Full Blast !!!
I see a VOLVO commercial in the making. Not trying to bust anyone's chops. Just having some fun in my graphic artist sort of way. I really would like to know more about A), D) and E).
1990 5 speed 760 Turbo Wagon 310K.
( '91 940 turbo eng. + trans.)
Konis, diesel springs, 2.5" exhst., 850 T5 wheels
1993 300ZX 2+2, 171K
1999 Ford Windstar LX, 90K
( '91 940 turbo eng. + trans.)
Konis, diesel springs, 2.5" exhst., 850 T5 wheels
1993 300ZX 2+2, 171K
1999 Ford Windstar LX, 90K
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