Running Temp / Thermostat Question

[bwhobbes]

hi peoples - i just bought sixsixone's Ke55 - good little car.... since ive had it the tempreture hasnt even got to the middle of the dial however today i went for a longer drive and i noticed that it was past midway... i checked the coolant hoses and both of them appear to be dry, no fluid at all yet there are no obvious leaks from the radiator or resivour..

 

so I'm assuming that the thermostat(s) have craped themselves shut.. ill be getting a workshop manual soon however in the meantime can someone tell me is there a thermo in the water pump or is it just the one running of the front of the head?

 

and also wheres a good place to get spares in adelaide?

[DearmanKE]

i think theres one in front of the head but i can't be sure

 

how long is a longer drive?

 

if the thermostat is crapped shut it would heat up very quickly

 

also the radiator would stay cool if it is shut? maybe?

[bwhobbes]

i think theres one in front of the head but i can't be sure

 

how long is a longer drive?

 

if the thermostat is crapped shut it would heat up very quickly

 

also the radiator would stay cool if it is shut? maybe?

long drive = about 35 min... it seems wierd that the bottom hose was empty too...i would have expected some fluid even if the thermo was only partially open..radiator was hot but not overly...

[silverra23]

While your thermostat may well be stuffed, no coolant in top or bottom hoses sounds more like a coolant leak of some kind to me... hole in radiator, or a leaking hose, etc.. or it got massively hot and pumped all the coolant out?

[sammo[RL]]

change the thermo and gasket, fill it up with coolant and or water, start it and see if it leaks anywhere, and watch the temp gauge.

 

If theres no water the temp gauge won't work, and it will get bloody hot!

[bwhobbes]

While your thermostat may well be stuffed, no coolant in top or bottom hoses sounds more like a coolant leak of some kind to me... hole in radiator, or a leaking hose, etc.. or it got massively hot and pumped all the coolant out?

there was no coolant overflow - didnt overheat

[bwhobbes]

change the thermo and gasket, fill it up with coolant and or water, start it and see if it leaks anywhere, and watch the temp gauge.

 

If theres no water the temp gauge won't work, and it will get bloody hot!

yeah - getting a new one today - will do.... interesting u mention the temp guage - where is the sender located? i presumed the radiator - it has been registering 1/2 to 3/4 temp but i doubt thats accurate if there isnt any flow going through it

[sammo[RL]]

sender unit sits just under the top hose, just below the thermo housing.

 

remember to flush out the radiator and block. theres a bolty tap thing on the front of the block, its bit hard to get to, but just unscrew it a bit, and stick the garden hose in the thermo hole and flush it out.

[greenmac80]

noob question but what is the general running temp of k motors?

or most motors for that matter?

[bwhobbes]

noob question but what is the general running temp of k motors?

or most motors for that matter?

the thermostat is set to open at 82c. running temp should be between that and about 90c.... anymore and your starting to run hot.... because the system is pressurised it shouldnt boil until at least 110c ...

 

I worked out the prob - seems apart from a stuffed thermostat there was some crud buildup in the water pump and heater lines (particuarly that small heater hose that runs into the w.pump...) flushed it all out and the rest of the system.. putting it back together tommorow - hope fully should be sweet then

[bwhobbes]

fixed and running sweet!