253 hilux overheating

[koo]

hey guys, i recently purchased an 89 hilux running a holden 253 v8. having dramas with it overheating. if i sit it and let it idle it will sit on 85 degrees or so, but as soon as i drive it and start stopping at traffic lights etc. it gets up to 100+ degrees C, and wont come back down.

its running the standard diesel radiator that has aparently had a new core put in it, and twin thermos, one on the front in the top right corner, and one on the engine side bottom left corner (prob half my problem)

i have removed/inspected the water pump, it seems fine. engine isnt using any water either. has new coolent in it also.

i know its a common thing for the 253/308's to be running hot in hiluxes. what have u guys done to overcome this problem?

i couldnt get the search function to work on the forum. so i figured i would just write a post asking...

thanks
-mike

[tuffer_2.4]

check the way that the thermos are running they may be pushing the air out the front of the rad which will make an air block when driving but when just idling will keep it cool
had the same problem on a 75 series i bought with a 327 chev

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

Thermo's don't move even close to the airflow of an engine fan.

Put a decent engine fan and shroud on it.

Paul

[mhanger]

i second that Paul.

Chris from locktup 4x4 is running 253 in a hilux with no probs, maybe chat to him.

It is a common problem in hiluxs, but almost always with guys running thermo fans.

Best bet is run a 3L radiator with the inlets and outlets swapped ($40 at a radiator shop) and fit a good engine driven fan and u'll have no troubles at all.

Goos luck

[cozab]

my v6 hilux was doin it with 2 shitty little thermos i whacked a 16inch on it and it works sweet as... Also try a gu style scoop or simular that should do a fair bit as well.

[80's_delirious]

thermos without proper shrouds are never going to come close to an engine fan with shroud. production cars that use only thermos have shrouds that allow air to be drawn through all of the radiator, not a bit in one corner and a bit in the other.

also, as said, check that the thermos you have are both shifting air in the right direction

[shorty.mqute]

if you do go to an engine fan make sure you have plenty of clearance, as
a 253 will move alot under drive, i put my engine fan through the radiator on my old hilux, it only had 1 to 2 cm cleanance...NO GOOD....

i put two thermos on the same as you have, over the inlet and outlet of the rad.. this worked good, but i also used a thermo switch to turn them on, they were two 12" davis craigs... i had a 16 inch fan, but it shat itself so i swapped to two small ones...
make sure the wiring is correct and they are pulling air throught the rad if they are on th engine side or pushing it trugh if on the bullbar side....

i liked my thermos as i had switch to turn them off for big mudholes or river crossings... this worked well, stoppin gthe water spraying around the engine bay off the fan...

i could feel the hot air being blown out from the engine bay past the front wheels when standing next to the gaurds...

sorry bout the novel...

good luck

[v8bulldogs]

Hey Koo,

Yeah the thin steel fan and thermos in the front is the way to go.

Bonnet vents help if they are put in the right spot... you will feel a hot spot on the bonnet if you are running an engine fan.

Last trick, do a google search for redline water wetter, or head wetter. This stuff does help.

Cheers,