The curse of my runner

[HoustonRunner]

Parts already replaced or deleted.
-new rad/thermo/fan clutch
-got the bubbles/air out of cooling system
-distilled water only
-re routed hoses to delete the heater core (2 years ago)
-water pump/t belt done about 2 years ago

My issue: my runner randomly gets hot or above average in temperature. It's never gone to the red zone but it at any moment will get hot.

Ex: drove for a week with trips between 5-30 mins varying between highway and street and she ran at the normal temp.

Today I jumped in to go 3 blocks and on the trip home it got hot.

Checked the res and it's still full and that's where I'm at. Literally have no clue what to do next.

97 t4r 385k 2wd

 

[thatoneguygeoff]

You have a cracked block. I had this same exact problem with a 22re in my old truck.

 

[HoustonRunner]

You have a cracked block. I had this same exact problem with a 22re in my old truck.

I considered that BUT I don't have a loss of coolant, no smoke, or mixing oil. Aren't those the signs?

 

[HoustonRunner]

Anyone?

 

[ThorInc]

Rad fan clutch.........

 

[jacknanita55]

How about a thermostat stuck in the closed position? Check your lower radiator hose and see if it gets hot...

 

[HoustonRunner]

Rad fan clutch.........

Both replaced already

 

[HoustonRunner]

How about a thermostat stuck in the closed position? Check your lower radiator hose and see if it gets hot...

** thermo is a 2 weeks old**

My dad has a 97 trans am that used to get hot and I could actually hear the gurgling when it was hot. So I attempted to do that today, when I got to my house I parked it, popped the hood and went to check it out. Nothing, rad seemed hot to the touch but wasn't anything crazy and I couldn't hear any gurgling.

Oh yeah.. And when I parked this damn thing when it was "hot" it cooled down. Not to its normal position but to the middle point on the gauge. (Runner is usually well below the center point)

 

[zig553]

It may be a good idea to actually get one of those laser thermometers and check the actual temperatures of the block, rad and hoses. I have an old BMW with a very inaccurate temp gauge (electrical problem?), sometimes will say its overheating but will be at perfect operating temperatures.

 

[HoustonRunner]

It may be a good idea to actually get one of those laser thermometers and check the actual temperatures of the block, rad and hoses. I have an old BMW with a very inaccurate temp gauge (electrical problem?), sometimes will say its overheating but will be at perfect operating temperatures.

That sounds like a good idea. Thermo opens at 180?190? I assume that's proper running temp right? So where do you think I should find that number or is there an area that should be cooler than another?

I thought it might be the sensor but I'm not sure if it's fualty, I read from other posts when they're bad they bounce around drastically and mine does. Mine seems to do what your old bimmer did. Hope that's the case.

Thanks

 

[nc-grayson]

Is the jiggle valve on the thermostat in the right position?

 

[Rcastle]

Radiator cap might be starting to go bad.

 

[85straight]

Try a thermostat with a lower opening temp., is the one you bought oem or aftermarket.

 

[jeremyc74]

Does it run hot on the highway, around town, or both?

It sounds to me like one of the parts you've already replaced isn't working properly.

 

[GangsterOfLove]

The first thing I would do is check the coolant with something like this:

Block Tester at AutoZone.com - Best Block Tester Parts for Cars, Trucks & SUVS

It looks for exhaust gasses in the coolant.

 

[Arnezie]

What temp is "randomly gets hot or above average"??

 

[thatoneguygeoff]

I considered that BUT I don't have a loss of coolant, no smoke, or mixing oil. Aren't those the signs?

My 22RE acted in the same way but the coolant was going away and wasn't mixing into the engine oil and was not smoking out of the tail pipe. I installed a new radiator, thermostat, water pump and even a larger electric fan and the motor was still over heating. Got tired of having to add coolant every time I had to go somewhere and just bought a rebuilt long block. Problem went away!

 

[HoustonRunner]

What temp is "randomly gets hot or above average"??

I don't have a digital gauge only the dash. Typically my gauge shows a hair below the center line. I'd consider anything about the center hot or above average. When the runner is running normal there is zero fluctuation in temp.

Runs fine on the highway, no rise in temp at all. Thermo was placed according the t4r so it's good.