Re: Unable to Solve Overheating 4000q

[James Marriott <marriott@lesbois.com>]

Hi,

LSmierciak@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Has anyone ever experienced this mess?
> 
> My 86 4000csq is running very hot.

Did you just get the car? How do you know it's "hot" and not just
"normal"? Some Audi/VW cars (inc. both of ours) often run near the top
of the guage.

> Naturally, the first thing I thought it
> might be was the thermostat, so I put a new one in.  This didn't do anything.
>  I then flushed the sytem and radiator using a good cleaner and descaler,
> refilled it with 50/50 mixture of coolant and wather.......still hot.  I
> changed the thermo switch in the radiator for the fan, nope.......Got a new
> temperature sender and put that in.......nothing.

You've replaced most of the cooling system with little effect. Again,
how do you know something's wrong?

> I thought too it might be the gauge, but the hot air blowing out of the vents
> is hot enough to burn your hand if you leave it there long enough so I know
> it's running hot.

An 85 dC thermostat will just start to open at 185 dF. This feels hot to
_my_ hand.

> Also, running on the open higway doesn't do too much to increase the cooling,
> the only major drop occurs when I am able to run down a steep hill for an
> extended period of time with the car in gear and the foot off the gas pedal.
>  After about a mile of this, the gauge reads down where it should be
> normally.
> 
> Does anyone out there have any ideas?

What are your oil temps? The 4ks never goes above 130 dC, but the 4kq
_runs_ at 130, and has seen 160 dC before. Is the "overheat" light
coming on? Engine clicking/clacking or smoking? (the outside of the
engine itself, not the exhaust) Coolant boiling, etc???

hth,
James
'87 4kq and '86 4ks

> Thanks for your help!
> Larry Smierciak
> 86 4000csq