Ok I picked up a 94 Turbo for cheap because of some damage. I have fixed everything cosmetic. Now I am down to mechanical.

I had it out on the road for the first time tonight, and it overheated. I have searched and read a ton of "overheating" threads. After reading I came up with the "short list" from JPN:
1. No loss of coolant (until it overheated)
2. Brand new thermostat from FCP Groton
3. Electric fan works
4. Timing seems fine
5. Unknown condition, but the car has 107,000 miles on it so I am not sure wether or not it is good shape.

At idle it has some white smoke, but I had attributed this to being cold out, until today when it was 60+ (shocking for a January in Maryland)

Soooo maybe a headgasket, maybe a radiator, any other possible sources? I could really use some help, I want to get this thing on the road so I can quit racking up the miles on my brand new truck.

Thanks for any help.

 

maybey a waterpump see if the coolant is circulating at all

 

I would also like to add "thermostat stuck fully open". If this happens, coolant flows so fast that it does not have time to give off heat in the radiator.

This is a knowledge gained from Tech's advice.


JPN

 

What about that temp sensor itself? The one I was supposed to replace (but didn't) when I replaced my T-stat? Maybe it's a false over heating issue?

 

I would replace the temperature sensor. I had to do mine and it took about 15 minutes and cost about $20.

 

It DEFINATELY overheated. Steam out of the hood and everything.

I doubt the T-stat is stuck open as I just replaced it 2 days ago.

 

How's your coolant level? Have you drained/refilled it lately? There could be an air bubble in the system. You could try opening the fill reservoir and letting the car run until it's up to temperature and see if any air bubbles surface in the fill tank. I'm sure others may have some other ideas on how to bleed the coolant system as well.

 

I havent drained and refilled the coolant recently but I will do that.

I checked the compression today and it is about 120 psi across all cylinders. Specs say that it should be at about 160 across the board. <- Discuss

 

I'm sure you have, but I have to ask, have you checked your oil lately? Anything unusual on the dipstick? You might even drain the oil and see if you've got coolant in it. If so, headgasket.

Just a thought

 

No oil in the coolant, no coolant in the oil. I just changed the oil when I did the T-stat.

 

I hate to say, butthe head gasket may be shot and the head could have warped, since it definitely overheated. Try pressure-testing the cooling system to see if it holds pressure, though I doubt it. If the head is warped, it may be better just to find another motor at a junkyard, with relatively low mileage. See what other members think.


JPN

 

Ok I figured I would dig this one back up. The car overheats under load. Going up hill really gets it hot fast. I only have about $700 in this car right now. Should I try and fix it, or just get rid of it? This car was supposed to end up as a cheap commuter. I think that fixing it is going to become expensive fast. The car is by no means perfect. it has its share of battle scars. I'm thinking that I can get my investment back out of it. I am very tempted to just walk away right now though.

 

Did you replace the thermostat yet?

 

i am still stickin with the waterpump

 

Possibility but I have never seen one not pump on the White motors.(5 and 6 cylinder aluminum engines)
I think thermostat stuck at a certain position.

 

I tossed the old one when I replaced it. Would it be really bad to run it without a thermosdat? Just a few miles to see if it still overheats?

 

It will most likely overheat at a certain time espically highway driving.
The thermostat regulates the coolant flow to cool it properly. If it isn't there is will moev through the system to fast to be cooled properly.