i got a rebuilt 22re that has about 8k on it and it has a new thermostat. normally my needle will sit about 1/4 way to hot but if i am sitting in traffic or in a line for more then a few minutes i can watch my temp needle start to creep up. i havent let it go past half way but it just annoying that it does it at all. so would this be my radiator starting to go out?

 

Inspect the fan clutch and water pump and belt.

 

Whenever I do a engine,I always include a radiator in the price.I see to many times while the radiator is out and it gets dry,once its installed,it never seems to cool.I would pull the radiator and back flush it.But first check the fan clutch.When they did the machine work,How much did they bore the cly. walls?Adding engine bore can add internal engine temp.If you nedd a Radiator check radiatorbarn.com.

 

Just watching the guage only alerts you to the possibility of a problem.

You probably have a 180deg or 190deg t-stat. Once you get to that temperature the t-stat is open all the way, so really all the t-stat does is to keep your engine from operating too cold.

when you are setting in traffic and there is little or no airflow across the radiator then the temperature is going to climb until the air that is coming off the radiator is hot enought to engage the thermostatic fan clutch which will then pull more air throught the radiator. Usually if the engine is running hot under these conditions the fan or the drivebelt that drives it are suspect.

If you think something is wrong, you need to do some testing. First you need to check the temperature of the coolant. If it is actually running hot then while it is above 210deg shut the engine off and observe the fan, it should stop almost as quick as the engine, If it freewheels then that is likely your problem.

 

x3 on the fan clutch. That is what spins the fan when you are sitting still to move air across the radiator:
- http://www.barneymc.com/TOY_ROOT/TECHNEEK/fan_clch.htm

 

I had the same problem after having my rad out when I did my T chain. I tried flushing it out with water, and rad flush but it didn't really help. I just went and bought a new rad and now shes running cool as a cucumber again.

 

So does the fan even come on?

 

mine sits right in the middle so yeah

 

as far as i can tell the clutch is working good. it engages when i first start it up, and it free spins after about 30 seconds. then once i am at N.O.T. and i accelerate from a stop i can hear it moving air. after a good drive and i pop the hood with the engine running its pulling a lot of hot air from the radiator. thats why i was thinking the radiator might be the problem and not the clutch or fan.