When my Car's Hot...

[slade]

Alright. So my car runs fine, so long as its not too hot (enough for the auxilary fan to come on typically, so on hotter days or when the car's been running for a while in traffic). I'm experiencing it more now that days are warming up.

It seems like if the engine temperature is anything over 90, I get a really lumpy low end, and over 5k rpm I feel like it's hitting a brick wall in terms of power (As I recall that's the sensation Wayne got when we went out for a drive )

On nice, relatively cool days like today it has enough power to pull itself out of the low rpm doldrums quickly, and zooms off from 3k all the way to 7k (it's a beautiful sensation B))

But if it gets any hotter than that, things get rough and I feel like cursing the car

Again, to throw you guys a curveball it's a K-jetronic car. I'm halfway towards just taking it to a mechanic and having him sort it out (seems like the slightest adjustment to the FI needs equipment that I don't have... I think it could do with having the timing adjusted), but I really don't want to do that... so just making sure with you knowledgeable folks first what else I should check

thanks

Slade

Edited May 5, 2006 by slade

[dodgy]

not really up on this subject, or any other for that matter

i would probably try fitting hotter plugs to start with, i know my car hates hot weather too - talk about pop pop pop backfire and it seems to be running better since i fitted ngk v groove plugs.

trouble is the air going into the intake is alot warmer, it a shame we can't divert the air con air into the intake to coolit down more , ... then again a charge cooler would do that

think i may be rambling , had a few to drink , hic

[slade]

trust me, in So Cal you NEED AC

(speaking of which mine needs a recharge

so is these cars hating hot weather par for the course? I fitted new plugs... two years ago. (the good ones, but nothing fancy)

slade

[Ray]

Hi Slade

That sounds to me like a typical over heating problem.

The radiators on these cars are worked very hard, so if there is any part blockage even when the fans cut in they have a hard time coping. Check to see if it needs flushing out.

Also check to see if all your fans are working when they start up.

You can also see if the water filler cap needs replacing, they degrade over time letting pressure in system drop which in turn lets the heat rise.

Also have you got the summer thermostat installed this helps to keep temp down.

Ray

[WayneB]

Slade, I think the wastegate is sticking.

My carbed car used to behave in a similar manner when mine was stuck.

Of course, it wont hurt to change the plugs and check the timing as the other chaps have suggested.

As for the mixture on K Jetronic Injection, Im not really up on it so I have no valid suggestions mate ( which means they must be pretty relyable as Ive never had to mess with one) (

[Guest Troy Halliday]

I know it sounds simple but when did you last change your air filter. I had a similar thing in my Renault Clio it used to pull like stink late at night but when it got hot it was another story. I cahnged the air filter and it made a huge difference.

[slade]

will try with the filter... changed a year or so ago. though from what I've heard the needle being slightly over 90 is a pretty normal range for the Esprit? I should get out an infrared heat gun and check how much it's really running at (a few years ago I found out that my temp guage actually reads high).

The car gets full boost though (even when it's behaving badly), but I'll check out the wastegate. Guess that gets exacerbated by the car being hot, if it's the case at all. Would that make sense?

thanks

Slade

[Guest Troy Halliday]

'exacerbated'................... ooow look at you with the big words. Do you know it might even get worse when its hot

[slade]

thank you, word a day calendar Now I can fit in with respectable, high class Esprit owners without even having a top hat and a monocle

I think I even spelled it right

Anyways, today was another cool day and the car ran fine. Hmm... probably worth having something done with the radiator while I'm at whatever I'm doing. (Wayne recommended the same to me, as he said even if the car is running within the temperature range it's still worth doing)

slade

Edited May 6, 2006 by slade

[dglotusltd]

Slade

My S1 drove me crazy with overheating issues till i finally addressed the Rad.

Either get yours recored or get a new one fabricated in aluminium with more core tubes.

Assuming you don't have water leakage into the engine or onto the floor, this will make a major difference.

DomG