Hello everyone,
I have a 13b NA. I have recently changed the standard radiator for an aluminium one because it was running hot.
Today I took it out for a test drive and the temperature is still climbing up slowly. I am using a cossworth electric fan (only a single pusher big one).
I thought it might be a thermostat so I had a look and there isn't one installed. Can it be the cause of the problem?
I remember reading somewhere that not having a thermostat messes up the circulation. Is that right?
Thanks for the help,
Gabor
No thermostat will mean the engine will take longer to warm. When the thermostat is closed when the engine is cold the coolant circulates the engine as it warms up prob about 82deg c it opens and allows the now hot coolant to circulate the radiator. And as temp drops closes again.
Your scenario your saying the car is getting to hot? Have you seen the fan cut in. The manual will state the exact opening temp of the thermostat and the temp of the fan cutting in.
The fan is on constantly as I just wired in to a switch so I can control that.
That's what I thought about the thermostat. No thermostat means it should run colder but I remember reading somewhere don't ever run a rotary with no thermostat as it won't circulate properly and can cause overheating.
Kind of running out of ideas. Water pump, oil cooler doesn't leak. Radiator brand new. I have got 50-50 coolant and water.
Maybe there is still air in the system?
I remember now. It was in Haynes manual.
Do not run without a thermostat. The coolant will take the by-pass route rather than flow to the radiator.
This recirculation will give overheating.
I'm just going to put one in there an try to get rid off all the bubbles and see if it makes any different.
Ok bud....you mention bubbles? Have you heard of champayne test? If the coolant seals are failing combustion gases are entering coolant passages and heating water that way....you get bubbles in coolant....theres a few you tube clips to demonstate this test easy and cheap...fingers x not the issue but an easy test. And as youve just changed rad hopefully thats the trapped air escaping.
Theres really good mazda manuals on here id put a sticky but on my phone at mo. Think there in technical section.
That might be the case unfortunately. Managed to break a bolt so I can't do the test this weekend. Yesterday when I was running the car up to temperature with the cap off the bubbles were there always. Arghhh.
If it needs new seals because I boiled these ones that's not a huge problem because I wanted to get a bigger bridge port anyway.
But wasn't planning it so soon though. :)
Arrrrrrggggg, it may just may have an air lock but it really sounds like a seal I'm afraid
Fingers crossed. Tomorrow the snapped bolt is coming out so I can try to bleed it again.
Since then I have realised that the first time I forgot to turn the heating on so maybe thats where the air trapped. :)
So there is still hope...
It looks like I was lucky this time. We have found a hole on the heater pipe.
So probably that's where the air gets in. Should've started with a pressure test I guess. :)
Thanks everyone for their help. Hope the car will get there one day. Sooner or later I'm going to run out of problems. :)
Woo hoo. Excellent news.