cooling yet again

[peterm]

Having never found a good solution and spending a harrowing ride this past summer in traffic on the whitestone bridge watching my needle go into the red I have exhausted the usual solutions.  Now Im thinking perhaps I should remove the ac condensor on my FUNCTIONING ac unit in my 1971 280sl. Im sure that will increase airflow at speed and perhaps vent more at idle as well.  Any thoughts from the group and any suggestion as to how to do this and leave the rest of the ac system intact for potential future use?  Secondarily it would free up room for a supplemental electric fan.

[merrill]

peterm,
are your thermostat and radiator in order?

There was a post where a member mounted an auxillary electric can behind the star on the grille and in front of the radiator.

there is also another post of an mb option to circulate coolant from the intake and return hoses to the heater (fan box)  supposidly this inproves the circulation thus aiding cooling.

using the search function you may find both posts

Matt
Austin Tx
66 230 sl - "white"
78 300 D - Blue
98 C230

[peterm]

a search on cooling will turn up my name many times for this topic.  Aux electric fans that fit with the AC consensor seem to be elusive----shroud- fan clutch-new water pump-timing-recored radiator-water wetter- all with no relief   the original mercedes benz fix was tried by another member with no success, the only real solution would be gernold up in arundel.  Im trying to avoid a two car road trip!

[waqas]

I'm with Matt: good radiator core and correct thermostat function are essential to cool operation, and their importance cannot be overstated.

Waqas in Austin, Texas

[Douglas]

Peter's frustration is well-documented here in the forums. He has done all the classic fixes to no avail.

Peter, I see a trip to Gernold in your future, but I would try to make it into a 3-day weekend so you can take in the charm of Kennebunkport. Awfully pretty up there.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[bpossel]

What about the oil cooler?  Since oil also plays a key role in the temp of the engine, what about boiling out the oil cooler, or possibly a recor of the cooler to ensure the flow is as max capacity.
I am having mine boiled out as part of my current resto.
Bob

bpossel  (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL  /  '97 E320

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by peterm

.... the original mercedes benz fix was tried by another member with no success ....

Peter,
A sample of one is not good for a statistical prediction of success/failure.  I would try the MB fix.  I believe I've read that it does work.  Does it cost too much money?  Make unreversable changes to the car?

Rodd
Pagoda Technical Manual
please contibute: http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php
1966 230SL
2006 C230 Sport Sedan