Re: GTV6 cooling system enigma...

[George Graves <gmgraves@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

As far as I know the IAP fans are OEM from the same people who built 
them for Alfa Romeo originally, and should be the same. GTV-6's don't 
usually overheat, and from your description, it could really only be a 
couple of things. First, you might have had the radiator flushed-out, 
but if a large portion of the radiator surface area is occluded with 
dirt, it restricts the air passing through the radiator and over the 
fins. So, I'd revisit the radiator again. The next thing is the 
thermostat. I had  a new one exhibit the characteristic of only 
partially opening, or closing partially after opening. I fought 
overheating for almost a year until I finally found the problem (I used 
to carry a gallon jug of distilled water in the trunk, against the 
probability that at some point, the thermostat would close and the 
radiator would boil all the water out of the system). When I finally 
installed a good thermostat, the problem went away, and no worries 
since -even with air conditioning running. The next thing I'd check is 
the plastic overflow tank. These are notorious for leaking. If the 
system is not holding pressure, the car will overheat. Get your system 
pressure tested. The last thing that I know of which can cause 
overheating is ignition timing. If it's wrong, the car can and will 
overheat.
Unless your block has occluded water passages caused by corrosion, 
there is really nothing else than can cause this.

George Graves
'86 GTV-6 3.0S




On Friday, Jul 18, 2003, at 10:14 US/Pacific, alfa-digest wrote:


> Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2003 11:08:53 -0400
> From: Alcon98340@domain.elided
> Subject: GTV6 cooling system enigma...
>
> I have been fighting with my cooling system on my '84 GTV6 ever since 
> the passenger side cooling fan melted. I have replaced the reservoir 
> cap (13psi), both cooling fans, had the radiator rodded out and the 
> coolant changed, and had a new thermostat installed. It is better than 
> it was (had Mount Vesuvius out of the overflow tank once), but still 
> tends to run warm in slow speed situations (stuck in traffic, etc). I 
> never used to have this problem. The fans seem to kick on at the right 
> temperature, and they are installed the correct way. Is there anything 
> else I can try? The fans are OEM style replacements from IAP, not used 
> stock ones. Could they be the culprit? Anyone else have experience 
> with the IAP fans? Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I am 
> running out of ideas and money to spend on this particular problem. 
> Thank you much for your time.
>
> - -Josh
> Proud member of AEP: Alfa Exchange Program! (WA and CA ;-) )
> Road trip story forthcoming.
> '84 GTV6
> '71 Berlina 1750
> '72 Berlina 2000
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