Hi. I'm new to this site and have a problem with my Escort 1300 OHV.
The water temperature will not rise much above 55-60 deg C when traveling but when in heavy traffic or ticking over stationary the temperature rises and when about 90 deg the fan will come on and drops the temp as normal.
Have changed the thermastat for a new one (88 deg C opening) checked the old one and that was working o/k anyway and have fitted a new radiator ( old one showing slight antifreeze stains) but it's not made any differance.
Have covered half the radiator and temperature gauge reads just under half scale when traveling but rises quickly when in heavy traffic and fan has to work hard to keep the temperature down.

Any ideas or advice would be much appreciated.
Dave.

 

does it ever over heat????
If not dont worry..


cheers danny

 

Hi Danny, thanks for reply but no it has never overheated it's just that I'm not getting any heat in the car unless I remember to cover half the radiator and working shifts the weathers starting to get cold.
Dave.

 

How do you know it's 55-60C ?
Gauges are notoriously inaccurate, so don't go by this, check the heater controls are set correctly as in you do get full movement at the heater box when the control is set to max etc, could be something simple, stat should maintain temp at it's rating, travelling along will produce enough engine heat for 55-60.
tabetha

 

the heater matrix rad if KNACKERED/BLOCKED

 

Hi, to take the temp readings I used a industrial digital meter with the prob clamped to the thermastat housing, the dash temp gauge works and the heater and controls work o/k, it's just that when the car is traveling it all runs cold and when stationary ticking over everything works as it should.
It's doing my head in not knowing why it's doing it but the car runs like a dream otherwise.
The radiator is the correct one and it made no differance to the problem after I changed it.
Baffling an't it!
Dave.

 

Disconnected the feed and return hoses from the heater matrix and plugged the hoses with solid bar today and it's not made any differance to my problem.
I'm starting to believe that the waterway somewhere in the engine block has been breeched and acting like the thermostat has been removed!.
Anybody agrees with that?.
Dave.

 

personnal if its running cold its fine id rather a car be running cold than hot. but if ure heaters are not getting hot, as 55-60 is hot enough for the heaters to be hot. then its summat to do with the heater matrix. the engine is obviously fine an my rst runns at bout 60 wen driving. stop worring bout the water temp when driving as thats fine go u a new heater matrix as if the heater are constantly cold then its fooked.

also check the water pump as it might not be pumping as it should