running hot

[siii8873]

well since my valve job, head shaving my truck is running hot. It runs over 3/4 way up from white bar to the red "hot" bar. Never ran this hot before.
I popped the hood and it did spew some fluid on top of radiator and overflow jug if Full. Think I'll change the thermostat and cap see if that helps, they were removed during the work. Any other thoughts?

[jac04]

Bob-
Where are you on the gauge?
I assume you've adjusted the valves & your timing is set correctly, right?

Here is the normal range for mine, obviously higher during hot weather.

[siii8873]

yea based on the gauge and where it historical ran. Previous to head work it ran at the low end or just below your low mark. It is now 1/2 way between red and high mark. I had put a higher temp thermostat in it last fall to get some heat and it was fine all summer like this until now.
I didn't change the timing and seems to run better than before (as I would expect with valve job)
The guy that did the head job for me said he left the valves a little loose because he replaced the exhaust guides. Does not sound tappy.

[jac04]

I would still check the valves & timing. Did you re-torque the head at all? That can affect valve clearance. You can also check the electrical connections of the temperature sender. It's still the same sender, correct? Just looking for something that changed when the head work was done.

[siii8873]

thanks Jeff,
my thought too what changed with this work? I was questioning the gauge reading also. When you pop the hood the engine is not popping and crackling like it's way overheating yet it did spew some fluids which it has not done before. Maybe overfilled but I would think it should void itself out the overflow bottle pipe.
I'm going to change the thermostat and adjust the valves.

The rover gods just don't want me to work on the bugeye. Everytime I get started I need to hold off and work on one of the other two.

[jac04]

Maybe overfilled ...

Maybe. Almost every time I drain & refill coolant on a Rover (or even on my 68 Camaro), I get some overflow out of the radiator the first time I get it up to temperature. It seems like the radiator is finding its "happy place", even if filled it to the proper level to begin with. I then make sure the overflow bottle (if used) is at the proper level, and all is well.

[rejeep]

seems silly to ask...

but did you burp the system?

did you try and run w/o a stat?

[siii8873]

I'm not sure how to "burp" the system. Never had to in past.

[siii8873]

I went out to work on the truck and something came to mind. How do you time an electronic ignition? Other than by ear that is. I know how to static time a points ignition but have never adjusted the timing on this vehicle with electronic ignition. It does ping a little under load. Does this mean it is a little to far advanced or retarded.

[rejeep]

advanced

[Terrys]

Never had to 'burp a 2.25. There's virtually no chance of 'trapping' air when filling. Jeff, the black plastic bottle on a series truck isn't an expansion tank, it's strictly a catch bottle for possible overflow, if the cap lifts. Under normal operating temps, the cap shouldn't lift.

[jac04]

Jeff, the black plastic bottle on a series truck isn't an expansion tank, it's strictly a catch bottle for possible overflow

Correct. Didn't think I called it an expansion tank, just a overflow bottle. Either way, I've almost always had them 'puke' out a little coolant after refilling.

[Terrys]

I then make sure the overflow bottle (if used) is at the proper level, and all is well.

I guess this is what confused me. I would think "Proper level" is empty.

[siii8873]

I cleaned the sender unit connection, looked OK. Emptied the overflow bottle and ran the truck. The guage raised to about 1/2 way and then creeped up to the 2/3-3/4 range up from white toward red. It stays there.
I pulled it in garage and checked under the hood. No spewing of fluid and overflow tank was still empty. I felt the top and bottom ratiator hoses, top very warm, bottom almost cold. As you feel up radiator cold at bottom and gets hotter as you get toward top. Does this sound correct?

I want to check the timing but uncertain how to do this with a crane electronic ignition. I have a timing light. What should the dynamic timing be set at? Should the vacuum advance be plugged or left operational when adjusting the timing. The engine does ping a little when under load.

[LaneRover]

I cleaned the sender unit connection, looked OK. Emptied the overflow bottle and ran the truck. The guage raised to about 1/2 way and then creeped up to the 2/3-3/4 range up from white toward red. It stays there.
I pulled it in garage and checked under the hood. No spewing of fluid and overflow tank was still empty. I felt the top and bottom ratiator hoses, top very warm, bottom almost cold. As you feel up radiator cold at bottom and gets hotter as you get toward top. Does this sound correct?

I want to check the timing but uncertain how to do this with a crane electronic ignition. I have a timing light. What should the dynamic timing be set at? Should the vacuum advance be plugged or left operational when adjusting the timing. The engine does ping a little when under load.

If the radiator itself wasn't warm than I would guess that the thermostat never really opened up and that is why the bottom hose was still cold.

Wait just re-read this. The hot comes into the radiator at the top and feeds back to the engine at the bottom, as the coolant flows through the radiator it cools down ('radiates' the heat away) so cooler at the bottom makes sense but if it is just cold than you either aren't getting much flow or the thermostat only opened a bit if at all.