Alright I've been through this it seems like a thousand times before but I'm gonna throw it out here again.

'96 GSR, T3/4 custom kit, 7psi max boost, 310s, V-AFC, bosch pump, Cartech 20005. Stock radiator, Jackson 160F thermostat, both stock fans, radiator fan running full time, NOS "super coolant".

Car seemed to be doing just fine for the last month or so (although I can't run my A/C when I'm climbing or speeding very much), but yesterday on my way home from Long Beach after about 90 minutes drive time my temp started to spike; I killed the AC and it still kept bouncing up and down; by the time I got off the freeway the temp was climbing at IDLE with both fans running; if I rev the engine the water pump presumable threw a little more water and the temp would drop down, then slowly climb back up. Temp gauge never went more than a TINY bit past the midpoint of the dash gauge but it was enough that the ECU killed my AC so I know it was not happy.

Off the freeway, looking underhood, car OFF, the overflow/expansion reservoir is full up and there are BUBBLES coming from the bottom of the expansion tank. Judging by the thermometer my temp shouldn't be higher than 200F or so, so it SHOULDN'T be boiling coolant even at atmospheric pressure. (although there could be hot spots making steam it doesn't seem right).

I know FIRST thing anyone is going to say is head gasket. This happened a LOT worse back a few months when I first got the turbo on (actually before the turbo I think but the turbo made it worse) and I put a new OEM head gasket on. When the head was off I checked for warpage with the best straight edge I could get ahold of and the head and deck seemed pefectly flat. Mating surfaces were VERY carefully cleaned, gasket went on DRY, I did everything by the book as best I could. Now I'm getting indications of the same problem; I cannot IMAGINE the gasket being blown again; running 7 psi with a J&S Ultra and not racing or even pushing the car hard for more than a few seconds at a time I would think there is little chance for harmful detonation.

I had some problems after the new head gasket went on that I solved with a new radiator cap and I think that's going to be my first step (these Kragen/Stant radiator caps seem to really suck it). Should I pull the cams out and retorque my head bolts if this doesn't fix it? Should I pull the whold bloody head AGAIN? If I've got some minor warpage is there any chance of using a thicker/softer head gasket that could conform a little bit to any irregularities? I'm dying here and it drives me crazy that I've got a pretty mild turbo setup and I have these constant cooling problems that shouldn't be an issue at all.

OK your turn. PLEASE give me any ideas you can to help me out; it's going to just keep getting hotter here from August thru September and I'm planning a wedding in the meantime; if I spend more than the next week or so working on this car I will be in it DEEP with my fiancee. I know someone out there feels my pain. Help me out here guys!

 

Um, my guess is as good as yours (so don't be pissed if I offer something obvious). Have you flushed your coolant? How is your A/F ratio (310's should make it good). maybe your radiator is shot. Hmm, last resort is get some Nitrous! j/k.

 

get the whole cooling system checked and pressure tested. though everything may look fine it may not be.

my h22a accord ran fine last summer and it started to overheat a bit this summer with the stock radiator. got it checked and it was losing pressure but no leaks. weird. this was without my turbo.

now i spent the extra cash. i got my fluidyne with dual aftermarket thinner, higher cfm fans and i'm good to go.

i can drive 90mph at vaccuum or boost with the ac on in 90degree weather with no problems. that's cooling for you. fluidyne has impressed me.