1984 Carrera 3.2 running hot?

pingpong · 07-25-2011, 06:44 PM

1984 Carrera 3.2 after driving 20 miles, temps goes up to 3/4, by 30 miles to 7/8 driving normal, temputure in AZ, this time of the year are above 100 degrees, after i take it more easy and just bring it back home, not wanted to risq any, please anybody is this normal? not using the airco. Thanks.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Is this a new symptom? What did you do to her recently?

What grade of Oil are your using?

If you went above the last hash mark into the Red territory, You must change the oil. The viscosity has been compromised

86 911 Targa · 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingpong

1984 Carrera 3.2 after driving 20 miles, temps goes up to 3/4, by 30 miles to 7/8 driving normal, temputure in AZ, this time of the year are above 100 degrees, after i take it more easy and just bring it back home, not wanted to risq any, please anybody is this normal? not using the airco. Thanks.

If those values are accurate, no, not normal.

The best operating temps for your 3.2 is 180-210F.

Which oil cooler are you using?

chuckr · 07-26-2011, 05:58 AM

It would be my guess that your thermostat is NOT opening. To check this, feel the oil tube behind your right front tire, after driving it should be very hot... also, you should NOT drive your car if it is heating up this bad.Crank you car in the drive way, when the temp gets above midway feel the oil tube up front, if it is NOt hot... you got bad thermostat!
one other thing...Draco is right... change your oil.

Barrpete · 07-26-2011, 06:27 AM

Sounds like you are way too hot. Normal driving should stay around the 9:00 mark - even in Arizona at 100 plus. +1 on the thermostat as a likely cause and on changing the oil.

Some other thoughts; if you were running the AC it will make the problem worse. If it hasn't been done already consider adding a fan to the oil cooler in the front fender.

NoLift911 · 07-26-2011, 07:10 AM

My bet would be the thermostat...I have an 84 also with the 28 row brass cooler - mine needs to sit and idle usually to even get into the normal area...it tends to run on the cooler side even with temps in the 90's.

If you do in fact have the 28 row cooler - adding a fan will do nothing so don't waste your time. That cooler is more of a heat sink - than the later radiator style, the later style does benefit from a fan as the factory installed on the later cars.

If it has been fine all along and is not just getting hot then something is wrong.

And yes change your oil.

Targa Me · Targa Me's Garage

I would check to make sure the blower fan in the engine bay is working.
I drive my 84 Carrera in 100F heat all the time and the temp gauge never gets past the 9 o'clock mark.
You can check the fan by turning the ign key on, but not to start the engine. With the key on lift up on the heater levers near the parking brake, you should hear the fan turn on. If not, unplug the fan connector at the fan and run 12 volts to the connector doing that will bypass any switch or wiring in between. if the fan doesnt run at that point its time for a new fan.

boyt911sc · boyt911sc's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingpong

1984 Carrera 3.2 after driving 20 miles, temps goes up to 3/4, by 30 miles to 7/8 driving normal, temputure in AZ, this time of the year are above 100 degrees, after i take it more easy and just bring it back home, not wanted to risq any, please anybody is this normal? not using the airco. Thanks.

Pingpong,

Check you temperature gauge accuracy before you replace the auxiliary thermostat. A hand held pyrometer is a good tool in this case. Compare the pyrometer readings to your temperature gauge (dash) at different temperature levels. The auxiliary thermostats start to open @ 186°F. Test the thermostat in a heated water bath and observe closely if the valve would start to move when the water bath temp. is around 180°F plus (water starts to develop tiny air bubbles at this temp.) and fully open @190°F.

Some of the auxiliary thermostats used in the tests are shown below:

A 9 o'clock reading on the temperature gauge is ideal, provided the temp. gauge is good and accurate.

Tony

Josh D · Josh D's Garage

Check your aux cooler lines to see that they are not crushed! I'm in AZ and just bought my car and missed crushed lines on inspection. It was running hot as well and I'm running the 28 row cooler. I found the crushed section where the line bends around the jack support area. Someone must have place a floor jack or lift pad right on the brass oil line and crushed it. I removed and deconned the lines, pressurized them with air, and heat the crushed parts with a torch and walla! Crushed areas opened up and now it's only getting up to 200* even running the A/C. I learned that trick from a thread here on Pelican. Saved me $300 bucks on a set of used lines!! Thanks Pelicans!!

pingpong · 07-28-2011, 07:08 PM

Thanks Guys, sorry i was out ot town, this weekend i hope to fix the problem, will update.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

A 9 o'clock reading on the temperature gauge is ideal, provided the temp. gauge is good and accurate.

For normal driving without AC, nine o'clock (220 f) is a little too warm and anything above that is too hot. Ideal is 190-210. Even in 100 degrees your car should be able to handle that. Besides looking at your oil lines and thermostat, look for a critter nest that can block air flow and cooling.
As others have said, if you've hit 250 you need to change your oil. Make sure you have the proper filter on there as well.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

+1 on the filter, I had experimented with the Napa Gold, it filter well but too well that it restricted the flow, with partially crushed lines this was a No No. Back the Mahle, flow is good now.