Help! Why won't my car overheat?

Doug in NJ

Doug in NJ

Well-known member
I took my car for a 12-mile drive today, when it was 102 degrees. The car has an aftermarket radiator of unknown age (a tag on it says "Eureka") that has only two rows, and is not as substantial as an original radiator. It's filled with straight water with some water pump lubricant.

But the car simply refused to overheat, even after idling for a while, and it did not lose any water during the drive, with no signs of overflowing or dripping. While idling, I measured the water temperature- it was 185 degrees. And after shutting the car down, where was no heat soak boiling or funny noises.

Am I doing anything wrong? How can I get my car to overheat like so many others?

Doug
 
I just did an hour shakedown with sustained 45-50mph, in this swealtering high tempratures of right around 75 degrees. Checked the temp and it was right on 160, which is what the thermostat is. (that was at 10pm -- no need for headlights on the highway either):D
 
I built a 28 roadster pickup a few years ago that acted like that.I really expected some heating problems,but never had them.Engine was .125 over,B cam,NORS two tube radiator,(the tag said Western Auto)original police head with the big B on it,and a four blade fan.The radiator would be hot at the top,and much cooler at the bottom.That was not measured,the difference was so much you could easily feel it by hand.An old fellow came up with what seemed to be the best theory.He felt the radiator would flow slow enough to cool,but not fast enough to let the water run back into the engine while still hot.
 
doug it must be that aerodynamic window glass we had made for your car.
you did a great job i have been following your diary/blog and that 12 mile shake down proves it on a 102 degree day
 
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Doug,

My '31 unrestored roadster has a "Eureka" radiator too. I use the original to the car Boyce MotoMeter on it to keep tabs of the temperature. I regularly cruise at 50 MPH with no over heating and it
does get hot here in Florida.:)

Bob-A:D
 
we all should have your problem ! mine never heats either & i love it for that !....
 
GET RID OF THE CAR!!!! You will never experience the joys of investigative troubleshooting or the resulting arguments of your know-it-all friends.
 
Well,.... It seem's like i,ve went and board mr. doug in NJ with my overheat problem.
I just thought that this might be the right place to ask for help, And I do thank all the folks that have tried to help me with there advice and info.
It seem's like out of every 50 people there is always a doug.
AHHH the day's of the class clown. :rolleyes:
 
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It must be the condensor, that is the case of most problems including flat tires, steering shimmy, empty gas tanks..........
 
You must have a improper gearshift knob on it.You will never get to drive with a nasty windsheild like some of us has. That is the best problem to have rite now during this heatopacalipse............Dave
 
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I tried the same thing with my tudor yesterday.At 106 in downtown Lock Haven the car never even burped. Cannot say that about myself as I did overheat and thought I was going to croak.
 
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400A-64 said:
GET RID OF THE CAR!!!! You will never experience the joys of investigative troubleshooting or the resulting arguments of your know-it-all friends.
Click to expand...

Exactly right. Sir, I find your situation sad and tragic. And during the peak of the summer driving season, too. Triple digit heat. After you tried so hard to make your car puke. You must be heartbroken. My condolences.

To go to the trouble of buying, restoring, and operating an old Ford- all that time and money- and missing the old Ford experience. Your sense of failure must be overwhelming. To not participate in the endless discussions about overheating is to miss the entire point of having an old Ford. Thermostat or no thermostat, water or antifreeze, too much timing or too little timing, new radiator vs. old radiator...the debates and frustrations are endless. It breaks my heart to know that you will never be part of the club. On the outside, merely looking in.

How sad you will never fully know the range of emotions (and miss the opportunity to learn new un-Christian words) to direct at your automobile. A missed opportunity, indeed, to enhance your creative swearing.

Your situation, sadly, is like sex without ******, coffee without caffine, beer without calories....

Oh, the humanity. :(










:D:D:D
 
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