cooling

[zoegrlh]

Paddy Crow and Jeff, good points, but I still go back to Andy's original question, how to get better cooling to engine.  If water/coolent is curcirculating, and engine is still running hot in traffic, could be radiator problem.

Robert Hyatt
Williamsburg, VA.

1970 280SL, Red on Silver,4-speed, Euro spec; 1999 C230 Kompresser Sport, Black on Black; 1990 Miata, Black on Red, 5 Speed

[Paddy_Crow]

quote:Originally posted by zoegrlh

Paddy Crow and Jeff, good points, but I still go back to Andy's original question, how to get better cooling to engine.  If water/coolent is curcirculating, and engine is still running hot in traffic, could be radiator problem.

Robert Hyatt
Williamsburg, VA.

1970 280SL, Red on Silver,4-speed, Euro spec; 1999 C230 Kompresser Sport, Black on Black; 1990 Miata, Black on Red, 5 Speed

It could be a radiator problem or a problem anywhere in the cooling system. Radiators do foul in time, especially when coolant is improperly maintained (quickest way to foul a radiator is to run pure glycol).

 My experience (cars in general, not Pagoda specific), however, is that the majority of overheat problems are due to a sticking thermostat. Easy to diagnose, just remove the stat and go for a drive. Or replace the stat, they tend to be pretty inexpensive and not terribly difficult to replace. If that doesn't fix it, dig deeper.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...

[al_lieffring]

quote:just remove the stat and go for a drive.

This is generally true, but not for a Mercedes. The thermostat in our cars is a unique design with two plates;
one that closes off a bypass circuit and another that opens up circulation to the radiator.

This design is to circulate water through the hot spots in the cylinder-head before the water starts circulating through the radiator.

Running with no thermostat in the housing will cause the coolant to continuously bypass the radiator and will cause the engine to overheat.

So the only way to test is to replace the thermostat.

Al Lieffring
66 230SL