EA82 Radiator/elevated operating temps

[Erik R]

Some of you may have noticed the weather lately.......rather warm here in NorCal; low 90's in some areas....................Leading to my need to run the A/C in my car.

This has never been a problem, as I replaced my radiator with a new unit in 1998...............A single row, all brass radiator. It fit well and never leaked.

Fast forward to NOW. Enter warm weather and A/C...............maybe a short climb up a small grade on the highway two days ago..............temp guage was 2 needle's width's from the red! I turned off the A/C immediately and backed-off the throttle. It was 2-3 miles driving at 70 mph before it came back down to "center", where it normally is.

Now, I just did some major work on this car last Dec. and I don't relish spending any more time or $$ on the car (not wanting to blow head gaskets on an EA82).........I have a family to feed!

So, Knowing I had a new thermostat on board and fresh belts and hoses; I felt it was time to pull the radiator and see what was going on. Keep in mind, I had no problems during the cooler months.

Checking the hoses while the engine was running (at the shop where I work, level surface, idling, A/C off), I noticed that I could not hold on to the top hose; not even for a second. The lower hose I could handle for several seconds before I had to let go.............I rested the probe from a meat thermometer against the two hoses (long-wise, pointy side AWAY)...........20-25 degree difference. Not impressive. I tested them again, engine off and after waiting 20 minutes. While the measured temp was lower, the temperature spread was the same................:-\

I pulled the Radiator, only to discover it was loaded with electrolytic deposits and some debris from the thermostat change I did in Dec.

Back flushing it produced little, if any debris; so it was decision time.

I need this car, it's my primary source of transportation....................

Rod-out old radiator, or buy new?....................Rod-out qoute: $65 and two-day wait at the local shop.

New radiator?...............Yep, I went for it. Overnight delivery, all brass and two-row construction!..................

 

So, it's installed and I run up the road with the A/C on, pulling a hill.......today's high was about 90...................

The temp guage never left the center of the scale!! Whoo Hooo!

 

Now, I'm not saying this is a cure-all........it isn't. Certainly other problems can lead to the same results and not indicate a bad or partially-plugged radiator.

 

Oh, fitment. The 2-row radiator is not a perfect bolt-up...........the core sits closer to the fan (mechanical one, electric bolted on with no modification), so the shroud had to be "clearanced" at the bottom (don't take off too much, there are spot welds at the bottom holding it all together) to clear the fan clutch.........even then it drags a little on the fins as you are installing it, but bolts up and clears normally otherwise.

 

I went 50/50 on the coolant mix and I used distilled water................coolant capacity is somewhat increased.........

 

The real test will be the Summer heat in July........that's when we see our triple digits.....................

I am satisfied so far, but will check back in if something changes or I am dissatisfied for some reason.

[BobBrumby]

heh i need a new radiator too.... its got a slow leak on the driverside, i can see it dripping off the support that its bolted too every so often

 

i aint lookin forward to that

[edrach]

Erik, glad you didn't waste your money on a rad flush or rod job. A common problem with our beloved subes. Easy fix and not too expensive--replace the radiator. Glad you learned the less time consuming and inexpensive way that the radiator replacement is the answer.