Re: 86 Spider Quad: runs hot uphill;

[bennetts <bennetts@domain.elided>]

    Brad:
     
    Are you sure of the temperatures? Do you know what  2 notches above
    175 is in a spider ? 212, (ok) 220+ not.  The
    temp warning light is another serious indicator. Coupled with the
    gauge you probably really have an over heating problem.

    My Milano had these same symptoms. Turned out to need a new
    radiator. Flushing didn't fix it but replacing the radiator did.
    Radiator shop said rad. was 2/3 clogged After replacing the radiator
    it never overheated again

    Best Wishes,
    Bernie Bennett
    Brenham, TX.

    Brad Karp wrote:

>Greetings, all.
>
>. . .Stuff deleted . . .
>
>3) When I am driving uphill on a rather warm day (say, >=90 degrees F), the 
>engine heats up rather quickly, beyond the normal level. On the hottest day 
>this past summer in the Berkeley Hills, my temperature warning light came on, 
>after the temp gauge reached two notches above 175.
>
>In everyday driving, my temperature gauge is usually pegged at 175 (vertical) 
>when the car is moving (on flat terrain). If I stop and idle for 3-5 minutes 
>after the engine is warm, the temperature will slowly creep up, and continues 
>to do so, until I begin driving again or shut the engine off.
>
>Henk at Britalia tells me that it's entirely normal for the temperature to 
>creep up when the car idles, because the fan is driven by the engine, and 
>doesn't move much air at idle. So I'm not worried about the behavior at idle.
>
>The overheating on a hill on a hot day, on the other hand, worries me. I've 
>had the following work done to try to improve this:
>
>	- remove radiator, refurbish; new coolant (done by Luigi at Monza
>	  Motors, San Francisco)
>	- check fuel injection settings, in case mixture is causing engine to
>	  run too hot (Luigi at Monza)
>	- replace "performance" small fan blade with factory fan blade;
>	  replace radiator cap (old one slightly damaged) (done by Henk at
>	  Britalia, Berkeley)
>	- replace water pump (Luigi at Monza, done as part of an engine
>	  rebuild he did for me in the summer of 2000)
>
>The engine has ca. 183000 miles on it, but again, Luigi did a complete rebuild 
>on the engine about 2000 miles ago, including *new* cylinder head; new valves; 
>machined bearings and camshafts; new timing chain; new water pump; &c., &c.
>
>Despite all of the above, the engine still heats up rapidly as I go uphill on 
>a hot day. Other suggestions, anyone? I have heard folklore that "Alfas just 
>run hot," but Henk swears to me that a properly working Spider engine and 
>cooling system can handle uphill drives on hot days.
>

>. . . more stuff deleted . . .
>

>
>Many thanks,
>-Brad, bkarp@domain.elided
>1986 Spider Quadrifoglio, daily driver
>
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