Anyone gone down this road?

wiplash · May 16, 2010

I have an 02 GTS ACR 6k miles no major mods, recently installed High flow cats and noticed temp while driving fluctuating more than before. To me it seemed the stat was not working right since it moved so quickly hot to cold when RPMs are low and fan is on.
Reading posts it made sense to me to go with 170 stat and add a fan control module. Weird thing is it made it run much hotter (highway 6th gear 65mph just under red line). Go to get off highway and temp slowly goes down but not into normal range with no spirited driving.
Am I missing something very basic? removed plug on stat housing while adding coolant hopefully getting all air out.
Only other option would be water pump but I thought that problem was fixed with 01 models. Radiator appears clean. Only 6K on car.
Any ideas or similar problems encountered?
Any help greatly appreciated.

Olddudesrule · May 17, 2010

Don't really believe a change to high flow cats should affect your engine operating temperatures noticably. What are the exact perimeters while your driving and noticing these operating temps (outside temps, length of drive, highway/city driving, etc.). I think the change to the 170 degree thermostat was unnecessary, especially with your stock motor. I have the same car with similar mods (01 vice 02), and haven't had any temp issues.

I'd make sure your bleed was thorough (assume you did a fluid change based on your comments), and check your overflow bottle in the front right facia for proper level.

EFI-1 · May 17, 2010

You might also want to double check all fastening points in the exhaust (portion touched during the cat install) for exhaust leaks. Any fuel odor accompanying the new high temps? How about more backfiring during decel?

plumcrazy · May 17, 2010

clogged cat maybe ?

put your hands behind your exhaust tips and see if they both feel the same. then see how far from the bumper you can feel the air pressure coming from the tips.

uvbnbit · May 17, 2010

Wasn't there some "issues" with the '01 or '02 water pumps?
It could be only '01 (as you stated)

Chuck 98 RT/10 · May 17, 2010

Deterioration of the cooling system has less to do with miles and more to do with time. If tap water instead of distilled water was used it will expedite corrosion. I'd do a proper flush of the system and maybe change the sensor.

Purdue_Boiler_Viper · May 17, 2010

Have you burped it correctly? My guess is you have air in the cooling system. See:

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/619276-help-radiator-drain-refill-proceedure.html

Jack B · May 18, 2010

plumcrazy said:
clogged cat maybe ?

put your hands behind your exhaust tips and see if they both feel the same. then see how far from the bumper you can feel the air pressure coming from the tips.

clogged cat possible, but, isn't there an x-pipe, if so it would make a diagnosis tough.

kcobean · May 18, 2010

Purdue_Boiler_Viper said:
Have you burped it correctly? My guess is you have air in the cooling system. See:

http://forums.viperclub.org/rt-10-gts-discussions/619276-help-radiator-drain-refill-proceedure.html

I'm gonna go with this. Unless you installed used cats, the likelihood of a bad hi-flow from either Roe or Random-Tech is not likely. Also not proper that the cat change would cause such a variance in coolant temps. "just under red" at highway speeds is concerning because that's when the least load and most airflow is occuring. To me, these add up to air in the coolant system (or a bad sensor).

wiplash · May 18, 2010

Tend to agree with the air in the system. Drove it Sunday night not very spirited and got right up to red at highway speed as I said earlier. So Monday I call Sean at Roe where I bought the stuff, told me I was out to lunch thinking high flows could have anything to do with it, told him I removed the plug on stat housing when filling, he said good job, and he gave me some things to check while parked, running and heating up. Felt the top radiator hose for air, felt like water, hose got hot just when he said it would, let it get up to temp in garage, all fan functions and temps lookin very good. Went for a very spirited drive about an hour or so mixing highway and city AND temp was managed very very nicely. Had to really try and get to the line between red and the *********. High RPM low speed.
Before I started it last night i did as he asked and checked all the basic stuff such as levels and blockage in fascia. Doing this i noticed the overflow bottle was about an inch lower than where I filled to the previous day. So I am thinking there was still some air in the system that was finally chased out on Sunday. Stuff hides in there good. Even the manual says it takes days to get it all out. Last night temp was around 50 so gonna keep after it on hot days and nights.
Hoping air was problem. Sean knows his stuff. Will let you know

kcobean · May 18, 2010

wiplash said:
Tend to agree with the air in the system. Drove it Sunday night not very spirited and got right up to red at highway speed as I said earlier. So Monday I call Sean at Roe where I bought the stuff, told me I was out to lunch thinking high flows could have anything to do with it, told him I removed the plug on stat housing when filling, he said good job, and he gave me some things to check while parked, running and heating up. Felt the top radiator hose for air, felt like water, hose got hot just when he said it would, let it get up to temp in garage, all fan functions and temps lookin very good. Went for a very spirited drive about an hour or so mixing highway and city AND temp was managed very very nicely. Had to really try and get to the line between red and the *********. High RPM low speed.
Before I started it last night i did as he asked and checked all the basic stuff such as levels and blockage in fascia. Doing this i noticed the overflow bottle was about an inch lower than where I filled to the previous day. So I am thinking there was still some air in the system that was finally chased out on Sunday. Stuff hides in there good. Even the manual says it takes days to get it all out. Last night temp was around 50 so gonna keep after it on hot days and nights.
Hoping air was problem. Sean knows his stuff. Will let you know

You might consider investing in a set of Roe hoses with the bleed screw on the upper hose. It makes bleeding the system a snap.

GTS Bruce · May 18, 2010

Agree 100% on roe hoses with the bleed valve and keep checking the overflow bottle in the front fascia. GTS Bruce

wiplash · May 19, 2010

Learn something new everytime on this site. Good info on hoses. thanks.

Anyone gone down this road?

wiplash

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Olddudesrule

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EFI-1

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plumcrazy

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uvbnbit

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Chuck 98 RT/10

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Purdue_Boiler_Viper

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Jack B

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kcobean

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wiplash

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kcobean

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GTS Bruce

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wiplash

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