pars wrote:
> After a flat out run from Kingston to Toronto (250km), I had the car
> idling in the driveway for several minuits to check things over (Can't
> be too careful with a beater that's got 280,000km and still running
> with all the original components under the hood). To my surprise, after
> idling in the driving for several minuets, the engine temperature gage
> starting rising. Which was very surprising, cause that was the first
> time I've ever seen the temp gage move from it's 1/3 mark. I checked
> under the hood and the reservoir was at the max level. The radiator and
> in/out house were all warm to the touch (warm enough for me to grab
> hold of them without burning...which is surprising since the car was
> going over 100mph back from Kingston). It only took me less then a min
> to do all the checking cause I was in a bit of panic. I went back into
> the car, the heater was turned off and all the way into the cold
> position. I moved the leaver all the way into the hot position and
> blasted the heat. Very hot air started coming out the heater and the
> temperature gage dropped back into its normal 1/3 position. It's been
> several days since that episode and I haven't encountered anymore weird
> problem with my cooling system.
>
> My guess is, after driving the vehicle hard it cooled off rapidly after
> exiting the highway and idling in the driveway, somehow air was
> introduced in the cooling system, there was some kind of blockage and
> when I turned on the heater, the blockage cleared up. If so, I won't
> worry about it. But, I'd like to here if you Guru's got any
> suggestion for preventative maintenance.
>
> Pars
>
have you changed the thermostat? and is the rad clogged with insects?