Okay guyz, got another problem for ya. My Datsun is getting HOT....according to the guage. I realize that just saying it get's from half to three quarters of the way up on the guage doesnt' mean a thing without actual temperature numbers, but I need to know if I could be a bit...screwed here. Here is what I've done to try to alleviate the problem:

New radiator cap (pressure release top)
New water pump
New thermostat (straight from Napa....what their systems say is proper)

Now, all I have left is the radiator. The radiator seems to be okay....on a day that I didn't start the car yet, I opened the drain valve and proceeded to change the antifreeze. I put the hose in the top to give a little wanna be flush and the water seemed to go straight thru to the bottom and out the drain valve....so I'm guessing it's decent...no apparent blockage. Maybe the cores are bad? I dunno.

Can SOMEONE tell me what the normal operating temperature of this car is? It's a 1722cc (I believe it's 22...but not sure) motor.

My problem is that with it being 85-90 degreees F....what's going to happen when it get's 110-120?!?!? Yes, it get's that hot here.

I'm going to start with getting an alternate guage installed so I can get an actual number on what the temp is.....but it doesn't look good so far.

I'm REALLY worried guyz....please help.


Dreamer

Not really the right place for the thread but anyway, You didn't mention when it gets hot (around town or highway) but if you have done all of that work and it still gets hot I would take the radiator to a radiator workshop and get it rodded and they will soon tell you if its OK or not. then I would maybe look at if the air is getting around the radiator in the front of the car instead of going through it.

My 2c worth!

Also is it losing coolant?? maybe head gasket or similar!

It's fairly common for a datsun to run at 3/4 mark on hot days. My first 1200 ran on the middle mark during the winter, but on the H mark during the summer. It never overheated or blew a head gasket. I drove it that way for years.

Putting a bit larger radiator in resolved that problem. Datsun put larger radiators in the newer cars.

Thanks for the quick response. You guyz are AWESOME!

No coolant is leaking what so ever. No oil in the water either. I AM going to change the oil and using NOTHING but 20/50w drive hard oil. I've learned that REALLY extends the life of virtually ALL vehicles AND helps them cool a little better.

I am going to take your advice and have the radiator rodded...but FIRST, I'm going to have a REAL temperature guage installed, so I can give you guyz some numbers (temperature) instead of "half, three quarters, etc".

I'll keep you all up to date on my progress. Thanks again...u guyz are the greatest!


Dreamer

Sorry, misplaced that last post, but it's still in the right area...just 'replied' to the wrong person. Again, you guyz are all great. All this advice is so nice to have.

Anyhow, she heats up driving around town or on the freeway (but I avoid freeway driving as much as possible due to the high rpm's she get's at 65-75).

You know what upsets me? I was driving today and a younger couple drives up behind me and is LAUGHING at my car....they were in a 70's muscle car of some sort....think it was an Impala. They pulled up beside me and started laughing and looking my way. I got SOOO frustrated...I yelled out "Yeah, laugh all ya want, while you are making stop after stop at the gas pumps, I'll be driving by laughing myself!". People are so immature when it comes to older cars. If the car doesn't go over 100 mph, it's junk in their eyes. What's wrong with people of today? I LOVE my Datsun. I have heard comments extending to "POS" (being polite not to say it without initials). I'm straying....anyhow, has anyone else had this problem, or is it just my misfortune with society?

Thanks again for all the help....again, I will keep you all posted and get you some REAL numbers once the guage is installed.


Dreamer

gday mate
ive got a 180b and i was having the same troubles...

as long as your hoses dont have leaks the problem is your radiator
have it flushed and pressure tested at the radiator place (radiators can look fine on the outside when on the inside they're as bloked up as a public toilet)

Paying to have a 1200 radiator rodded is a waste of time. Just get a bit larger B210 radiator for less money. You might check with other 610 owners to see if the same principle also applies to 610s (meaning, are 610 radiators marginally 'too small' right from the factory?)

You can test if the radiator is "plugged up on the inside" with this simple test:

1. (engine cold) Remove the cap and yndo the top hose.
2. Undo the bottom hose and block it with your hard
3. Top up the radiator with water
4. Remove you hand
- if it runs out a stream as big as the outlet, all at once, that's good
- if it runs out a stream smaller than the outlet, it is blocked

Quote:How high RPMs? A Datsun 1200 runs about 4,500 rpm at 75mph -- well below the redline of 6000 rpm. It can run all day at this speed.

I dunno...don't have a tach.....will see if I can't hook up a temporary meter to see the rpms.

Anyhow, does ANYONE know the normal operating temperature (considering a 110-115 degree Farenheit summer) of my Datsun?


Dreamer

p.s. - Thanks again fer all the advice.

The only problem I can think of with getting a different radiator is the shroud. See, mine (luckily) HAS the original, two piece, shroud....and if I get a bigger radiator, that shroud isn't probably going to fit, thus making for a heated situation if I'm sitting at a long light or traffic...right?


Dreamer