2nd Generation - Overheating

[ChoochCharlie]

I need some advice.

Did the head gaskets. She fired right up afterward, success.
But it started to overheat.
There was a ton of gunk in the top of the radiator, it was like half full and coolant was not flowing down through the core. So I flushed it, out of the vehicle, with a hose. Then, back in the vehicle, I used radiator flush. Still started to overheat.
New thermostat and new radiator cap. Still overheats.

So, tonight I pulled the thermostat out. Removed a gallon of coolant to do so. Then I put a quart of flush and a gallon of water back in. Then topped it off with another half gallon of water. This confirmed that I was not able to get the system full with the gunked up radiator before. With the thermostat out, the system filled up.
On a drive though, it ran for 15 minutes great, then popped back to overheating.

Tomorrow I will flush the entire system again and get a good 50/50 mix in it.
But I am thinking I need to change the radiator.

Any ideas?

 

[FubarGrn]

I need some advice.

Did the head gaskets. She fired right up afterward, success.
But it started to overheat.
There was a ton of gunk in the top of the radiator, it was like half full and coolant was not flowing down through the core. So I flushed it, out of the vehicle, with a hose. Then, back in the vehicle, I used radiator flush. Still started to overheat.
New thermostat and new radiator cap. Still overheats.

So, tonight I pulled the thermostat out. Removed a gallon of coolant to do so. Then I put a quart of flush and a gallon of water back in. Then topped it off with another half gallon of water. This confirmed that I was not able to get the system full with the gunked up radiator before. With the thermostat out, the system filled up.
On a drive though, it ran for 15 minutes great, then popped back to overheating.

Tomorrow I will flush the entire system again and get a good 50/50 mix in it.
But I am thinking I need to change the radiator.

Any ideas?

Change your oil, if there is coolant in it, your head gasket(s) are probably blown. Gunk in the radiator? The first part of your post sounds like there is some backstory to it.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Oil is clean.
The gunk was the typical oil/coolant sludge. Just a lot of it.

 

[Hunner]

I'm still having some trouble out of my 95 3.0 overheating to, but I'm pretty sure that it's water pump. I did have my radiator professionally cleaned and re-braised (think that's what you call it). Cost me about $40. A mechanic a while back put some stop leak in my system to try and fix a blown head gasket, but it seems most of it ended up in the radiator. The guy that cleaned my radiator said it was about half stopped up. Pretty cheap solution if that's your problem.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Going to get it flushed today.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Fixed !!

It was the radiator.
Took it down to the shop to get it power flushed and the mechanic tells me "Why exactly did you think this was needed?" all stern and serious. I freaked. Thought he was going to tell me the head was cracked. I smiled when he told me the radiator was toast and had him really confused.
Bought a new one and had it installed in 20 minutes. She runs great now.