Staying cool....

[NF65Fleetside]

Aye guys just wondering what kind of radiator/fan setups your running...I think Im converting over to an aluminum/dual fan setup next week. My truck runs super hot, about 160 just in regular use and pushes 190 in traffic...where are you guys running at?

[rodnok1]

super hot at 190...I can't keep mine near 190 on hot days. Sounds like your fine to me. Anyways, I run a Modine 1R347 4 core with a electric fan. I also have a disc in water pump (flowcooler I believe), I run a 195 thermostat. I have big problems keeping mine warm enough in the winter even here in NC(tunnel ram keeps it cold). Since I put the elec fan in it never gets above 205-210 even on hot days. I had a clutch fan and homemade shroud, they did well but the fan went bad so I switched over to electric, mainly so I could control engine temp more. I don't think much of the high dollar alum rads myself, when you can get almost the same performance from copper rad.

[NF65Fleetside]

so you think I should stick with my stock radiator and just buy a large electric fan?...the guy who had the truck before me put an electric fan but its a pull fan and only 10"....I just want to feel safe driving long distances and in traffic.

[rickf]

Running at 160 is way too cold. Anything under 180 is bad. I'm sorry I've lost the references, I need to find them again. But the basic deal is two parts: One is that the motor oil is formulated for a 180 to 220 operating range, the other is something about burning the fuel right to reduce corrosive side effects.

The stock thermostat for 71 GMC 350 is 192, running at 190 is not a problem, its about perfect.

I am using an OEM replacement 3-row radiator, of the 25x17 inch size (the 230L6 came with a smaller OEM rad, roughtly 17x17). I am using an electric fan because it was handy and I don't have a shroud for the standard water pump fan. I'm running at about 195 and turn the fan on only in very slow traffic.

I just put this stuff in last spring, in cool weather it worked fine. I expected to have to put a a bigger alternator and fan controller or buy a shroud and put the stock fan in place when summer came. I was pleasantly surprised when the hot weather came and the truck still kept running at 195 for most driving with no fan running. (I have a manual tranny, so no tranny oil cooling load on the radiator.)

But back to you, if you are running a 13 to 16 psi radiator cap and 50/50 antifreeze your cooling system should be able to get to about 250 degrees without blowing. Anything up to 220 is not really a problem. Past 220 I'd be concerned, past 230 I'd stop and ... well, I don't know, but let it cool for sure, amybe look for something to fix.

Are you getting any other symptoms of overheating? Possibly you really are overheating and your gauge is wrong.

What size radiator are you using now?

[rodnok1]

To be honest if it doesn't overheat now, I wouldn't mess with it. But if you wanted to upgrade the fan I would. Most of these trucks don't overheat unless running higher comp/hp motors. You really only need the fan when not moving down the road or if towing alot/have AC. Once I get moving down the road I usually turn the fan off. If a truck overheats going down the road it's the rad/water pump problem(clogged/bad/hose collapsing)

[NF65Fleetside]

wheeeeeeeeeeeew! you guys are a life saver! wow I was really bug'n out...yah she never gets past 220 but if 190-210 is ok them you guys just took a load off my chest of concern. I have the stock radiator and a "pull" style electric fan.

[NF65Fleetside]

dug around in my old parts box and stoked I hadnt gotten rid of the clutch/7blade fan!!!! put it on and drove the truck around for a bit and even just let her sit while running, the old girl didnt break past 160!...no my concern is what damage was caused from the times of getting close to 200-210?

[rodnok1]

No damage, like rickf said until 230+ no worries...

[NF65Fleetside]

sweet, now i got that headache out the way time to move on to suspension!