I have been battling with overheating issues since day one. I turboed my car about 1.5 years ago and just finished it a few months ago finally. I had replaced the radiator w/ PWR , water pump, thermostat 170, hoses, and rad cap. It has always run hot but recently now that its summer time, around 105 here in the desert, it has been reaching its all time high water temps at 218-225F. I have done coolant flushes about 5x in the past 2 months and have tried everything from running hoodless and bumperless. I have tried straight water, water & waterwetter, 50/50, 70/20, just about everything. I have a huge intercooler that blocks the radiator but even bumperless it runs 215. Any Little hill or incline in the road raises the temps about 8 degrees and even with the heater on it has little to no effect.Dont think its the headgasket because there is no loss of coolant and the car runs amazing even when hot as *****. ANY IDEAS?

 

are you running lean?

 

I had a similar problem. It turned out to be a leaky head gasket. It would push coolant into the reservoir and then suck it back in when it cools down, along with some air.

 

I would double check the tune.....what brand waterpump and age of it?

 

no running 10.9s under boost and 13.3s under normal driving

brand new oem waterpump installed when turbo was put on. year and a half ago. Has had roughly 5k miles of driving since.

Just recently did an oil change no water in oil and have done numerous coolant flushes and no oil in there.

 

are you sure the you took out all the air bubble when u added the new coolant???? it might have an air pocket

 

i willing to bet it is ur headgasket. i just turbo'd mine 2 days ago, and i am having overheating issues. i got a brand new 1'' rad, open thermo, hardwired fan to stay on @ all times. When i tuned it, the mech said it was my headgasket. i think i let it overheat too much one time and it just blew the gasket. Mine also runs perfect even when its hot outside. Good luck, i know it is frustrating

 

do a test by pulling the intercooler off and going for a short drive and check the temps.

is sounds like the "huge intercooler" could be blocking much needed air flow to the radiator.......and if you have A/C in the car the condensor also.

 

When the turbo was installed did the thermostat housing get covered with a bag or some tape or something?

It sounds really stupid but maybe its still in there restricting flow, THIS Can happen!

 

tried replacing your fan switches? just a thought...

 

Yes. You called?

 

Ive seen head gaskets blown that dont smoke and only overheat when a load is put on the engine....do you have a block tester or 3/5 gas anaylyzer?

 

Fans are hard wired so they are always on. Ac is off though by removing it all could cool it down and I have done so many flushes there is no air nor any obstructions.

I am going to run with no intercooler and buy a gas analyzer tommorrow see if that helps. Does anyone know if the tester you put in your coolant to test carbon in it works for checking bad headgaskets?

 

i came here with the intentions of there being cookies?

 

Gas analzers are expensive....you can pick up a block tester around 50$ and they work pretty good....just make sure you dont suck any coolant in (drain some out if you have to) or you have to replace the testing fluid and start over

 

Try a new thermostat. I know you replaced it but its worth a shot, plus theyre so cheap you might as well.

 

go to napa and get a radiator chemical tester. if there is any cardon monoxide in the coolent system it well change color if the headgasket is bad.