Overheating Problem

[madmann29]

Hi i Have an 87 supra turbo. And i took it out today and it was fine until i sat still. I sat in a parking lot with the engine running while my dad went in the store and the temp gauge got into the red. Once i started driving it went down again. I was thinking maybe sitting in the sun was making it over heat.

Any Ideas, and if so how can i fix them?

Thanks

[repinS]

Haha, sitting in the sun won't make a car overheat.



Fan clutch? Hope it's not the dreaded blown head gasket.

[Jeeves]

Originally Posted by repinS

Haha, sitting in the sun won't make a car overheat.



Fan clutch? Hope it's not the dreaded blown head gasket.

Could be, this was an indicator of my first BHG as well. However, the first step in this case is check that the clutch fan is working well. If it's not, it'll do the same thing.

[Ryncub]

I had the same problem with my 87 turbo...
It was fine as long as I was up to speed, but when stopping for tolls, or stop and go traffic it would overheat, sometimes into the red.
I replaced the thermostat, fan clutch, flushed the radiator and did a complete coolant change... and none of this helped.
To make a long story short, I blew the head gasket a few weeks ago during a lunch break. The couple weeks before it blew the car would actual overheat slightly when driving at speed... it wouldn't get into the red though, but very very close.
It sounds like you might be headed to a blown head gasket.
If you want advice, and if you are convinced it is a BHG in the making, I would have it fixed before it happens... you avoid further damage and can plan your schedule around the repair. I was just stuck with a broken vehicle one day at lunch... that sucked.

[91gredsupra]

here are some quick and easy ways to test your cooling system. water pump: get the car to normal temp at idle then turn on the heater if you have to rev the engine to feel heat your water pump is failing or you have a restriction in the cooling system. radiator: when at normal temp feel around the radiator for cold spots thats how you find restriction. blown head gaskets will usally cause a cylinder misfire with the overheating

[Jeeves]

Originally Posted by 91gredsupra

blown head gaskets will usally cause a cylinder misfire with the overheating

With two blown head gaskets and 10+ among my friends, we've never had a steady misfire with a BHG. That's not an accurate way to tell a BHG.

[DanShreve]

You can test your coolant for traces of exhaust gas. The kits are said to be available at Napa auto parts.



You might also consider a compression test.



As was previously stated, check out the operation of the cooling fan and replacing the thermostat is cheap and can’t hurt.



You might also want to pull the radiator to inspect it and give it a good cleaning which only costs labor for the most part.



Is the car using coolant at all and are there any signs of it in the oil?



Dan