Sounds like the pump is turning then but the problem was there wasn't enough
air flowing through the radiator. The Ohio Valley weather isn't always fun,
it may be only 85 degrees but the humidity is also 85 percent.

I assume that DC doesn't like the additives as there is an increased
possibility of unintended chemical interactions whenever you start dumping
stuff into a complex piece of machinery. They say it isn't needed.

With the new antifreezes you have to use distilled water to get the greater
benefit. I just flushed my WJ and I thought it was worth 79 cents/gallon
for the distilled water. I got the "new" DC approved antifreeze (Zerex
G-05) and was only able to find it at Pep Boys which is across town (in
Cincinnati). It is NOT available at Auto-Zone, Advance Auto Parts, NAPA,
Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, or Meijer. They carry Prestone or Peak. Zerex
G-05 is about the same price as "American Green", I paid $9.99/gal

I've not looked into any prices but my WJ has an electric fan that is
temperature controlled.

Thermostats and radiator caps are cheap. If I was having problems I would
replace them as a matter of course.

As far as oil is concerned I am a great believer in the synthetics and
synthetic blends. They flow more easily, clean better, increase mileage,
and decrease emissions. They sometimes cause a drop in oil pressure because
greater fluidity (reciprocal of viscosity), they flow so much easier than
Dino oil. (You will recall that an oil pressure gauge measures the
resistance to flow coming out of the pump). I run 10w-30 in the WJ (and
5w-30 in the Audi) but have no philosophical problems with using a slightly
heavier multi-grade oil. I used Rotella-T 15w-40 or Pennzoil 20w-50 for
many years and would not expect any problems in an 8 year old vehicle. I
will cause your gasoline mileage to drop.




"Endo" > wrote in message
...
> No strange noises so far. Seems like this is only a problem when the A/C
> is on and i'm idling in park or moving at very slow speeds. I can and
> have cooled it down by increasing RPMs while sitting still in park. It
> has been the hottest it's been here all summer recently. It's been 85F or
> higher and while I know that's nothing compared to Arizona or Florida it
> is damn hot to us temperate climate people.
>
> I'm curious to the reason DC doesn't like the water wetter. I never heard
> anyone refer to it before.
>
> And yes I am staying a far and wide path around the Dex-Cool stuff. I
> used that once on a car and regretted it dearly. I might as well have
> filled the f-ing thing with battery acid for all the damage it caused. My
> '99 Merc. Cougar came factory with it, so I left it alone. Maybe thats
> the key, unless it's put in at the factory never try to use it.
>
> And yes I usually run 50%, but with the color of it now i'm worried it may
> be a lot higher percentage of antifreeze than water. Hose water is good
> to flush with but does anyone prefer distilled water to fill with?
>
> Oh, and lastly I wonder if I have a sticking thermostat or maybe a bad
> radiator cap? I heard one noise that I think was the rad. cap letting go
> when it overheated once...
>
> Shawn
>
>
> "BillyRay" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What about a possible water pump problem Bill? He did not mention any
>> unusual noise but that doesn't always happen.
>>
>> I would (and did) install one of those $3.99 Flush-N-Fill Kits in the
>> heater hose. It is remarkable how much junk it can flush out of a
>> motor/radiator.
>>
>> I would skip the water wetter. DC advises against it.
>>
>> Make sure you get old fashioned 'American Green" or Zerex G-05
>> antifreeze and not the Texaco-GM "Dex-Cool" based formula which have a
>> reputation for clogging and eating radiators metals.
>>
>> The concentration should be 50-60% antifreeze in your area. Less offers
>> little corrosion protection.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Get the thermo activated clutch, the centrifugal saves gas, but
>>> will over heat at high revolutions per minute, below forty miles an
>>> hours like we do in the lower gears off road.
>>> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>>> http://www.billhughes.com/
>>>
>>> End wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The fan clutch sounds probable, and I will probably flush it too just
>>>> to be
>>>> safe but the antifreeze in it is only about a year old and still nice
>>>> and
>>>> green. Maybe it's too strong a mixture and I need more water.I will
>>>> get a
>>>> bottle of the Redline Water Wetter too just to help out.
>>>>
>>>> I will consider a heavier weight oil also, i'm due for a change now
>>>> anyway.
>>>> Too bad Wally-World only carries Valvoline full synthetic in 10w30 so
>>>> i'm
>>>> going to have to go to a 'real' parts store like Auto Zone. (sic)
>>>>
>>>> Shawn
>>>>
>>>> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>> > Hi Endo,
>>>> > I'd flush your system like you've doing every two years to avoid
>>>> > the electrolysis that'll eat the head gasket, water pump seal, and
>>>> > core
>>>> > plugs. And go ahead and replace the fan clutch.
>>>> > The oil temperature lags behind the water, but eventually catches
>>>> > up, if you had checked it you would have seen it with the constancy
>>>> > of
>>>> > water, with about the same lubricating qualities. If your going to
>>>> > get
>>>> > caught in traffic jams, then switch to 20/40, or 20/50 like I use at
>>>> > three hundred thousand miles. Remember pickups with the trailer
>>>> > package
>>>> > also have oil coolers.
>>>> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>>>> > http://www.billhughes.com/
>>>> >
>>>> > Endo wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I was idling in traffic on the 4th waiting to get into parking at
>>>> >> the new
>>>> >> Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for fireworks and all of a sudden my temp
>>>> >> jumped
>>>> >> up to just below the red and the 'check gauges' light came on. I
>>>> >> did a
>>>> >> quick u=turn and got into a non-congested lane and got moving to get
>>>> >> some
>>>> >> air flowing and it calmed down to a little over 210, but just a hair
>>>> >> higher
>>>> >> than usual. I was running the a/c on max since i had the top on
>>>> >> still.
>>>> >> Shortly after it cooled back down to a more reasonable level I
>>>> >> noticed
>>>> >> another strange problem....when I came to a stop the oil pressure
>>>> >> would
>>>> >> dive
>>>> >> down to zero and the light would come on again. Once it cooled down
>>>> >> for
>>>> >> good after parking for awhile this went away too. It's done it a
>>>> >> few
>>>> >> more
>>>> >> times since and it's usually during slow driving with the a/c on.
>>>> >> The
>>>> >> oil
>>>> >> level seems fine and it's Valvoline full synthetic 10w30. Coolant
>>>> >> is
>>>> >> topped
>>>> >> off and is a nice green color, not nasty stuff.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Any theories for this happening?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Shawn
>>
>>
>
>