Mk1 cant take the heat.

[Spyda]

Its to damn hot for my mk1...and its not even that hot yet!

Its not bad enough that i have to use a socket wrench to wind down the windows, i cant use the sterio becuase the amps get to hot, you can have a bbq using the wood grain steering wheel and due to the lack of insulation it gets to about a million degress when sitting in trafic but it strugles almost all the time and sometimes even stalls in an AUTO!

Was anything changed on mk1s to help them cope with Australian weather? I know my mk2 had no problems in 45+ weather.

My main concern is the water temp, its above 3/4 even when driving and the water levels are right.

Would a mk2 radiator fit and keep things cooler?

Feel free to offer adives and share your experiences with mk1s in hot weather.

[static1800]

Is your thermo kicking in? if not that will be your biggest problem.

I've never had a problem running them in the heat.

Maybe you need a good flush out and check over your cooling system, something sounds wrong.

[Spyda]

Is your thermo kicking in? if not that will be your biggest problem.

I've never had a problem running them in the heat.

Maybe you need a good flush out and check over your cooling system, something sounds wrong.

Yeah i was planning to give that a go. The thermo is working.

[static1800]

At what temp does it start? like where on the gauge.

I would pull the radiator out and check it and give it a good clean out and flush the system of coolant and put some new fresh stuff in.

Another thing to check is your thermostat, to see it is opening when it should be. It may not be opening correctly or way to late and the engine is getting hot as a result.

[Peter Jones]

I run MK2 radiators in both of mine. You can see how it's done at DOVW.

The shrouding is important in traffic too, replace it if it's missing.

The car MUST have a thermostat, some people remove them completely mistakingly thinking that it will make the car run cooler. It doesn't.

Check the fan is working as mentioned of course.

Pete

[Jarred]

never had any bad experience with mine. I've had a couple nervous moments with old yellow back in the middle of summer in the city, and in traffic, had the thermo running constantly practically! runs rough when it was reall hot, but never had any problems with it

[lawny]

mine has hit its peak today but only got to half in city traffic, i hope thats as bad as it gets. the mk2 radiator sounds like a good idea pete. can u get twin thermos that fit the mk1 radiator??

[Spyda]

At what temp does it start? like where on the gauge.

I would pull the radiator out and check it and give it a good clean out and flush the system of coolant and put some new fresh stuff in.

Another thing to check is your thermostat, to see it is opening when it should be. It may not be opening correctly or way to late and the engine is getting hot as a result.

The fan comes on at about half way up the temp gauge. It works normaly. Comes on when i come home and turn off the car etc etc.

[gldgti]

i never had any probs with any of my mk1's in the heat... a good radiator flush, nice clean coolant, working thermostat and fan, and i guess make sure the water pump is ok... i had the water pump on my mk3 fail, butnever on a mk1 (same pump though). only had leaky mk1 pumps.

years on internal corrosion could feasibly block up passages.... but i dunno if thats likely.

[greasykitchen]

It was 37 degrees here today and mine was fine. It's always been fine except for once on a really hot day after over an hour at 110km/h including a hilly bit. That was before I had some heater core hoses replaced and now it runs cooler (though I've not driven that road since).

Oh, and the radiator is non-stock, but I'm not sure how it differs from the original.

I sympathise with the hot interior though, even with the windows down. My next car is going to have air cond!!!!!!

[evorobin]

Only problem I had with overheating on a mk1 was dirt on the OUTSIDE of the rad so be sure to clean it well when you reverse flush it.

[ontarv]

yep drove mine to work and back all the time
no trouble at bar one time when i lost power to the cooling fan
and we get mid 40's for a week at a time
as every one has said flush out, thermostat and good coolant and you can't go wrong

[AUC-05L]

my never goes past a third on the gauge, it has had a reco radiator put in however, just flush yours out see if that helps. im running it on water also. probably should put coolant in for the summer....

[Spyda]

my never goes past a third on the gauge, it has had a reco radiator put in however, just flush yours out see if that helps. im running it on water also. probably should put coolant in for the summer....

Ive researched and coolant acutaly doesnt help reduce the temp, water is much better. It prevents corosion and increases the boiling point but thats about it.

[dubai gti]

drove mine back from the mechanic(who'd had it for 3 weeks) this morning..whilst now tuned well, a few carby leaks and throttle spindle sticking, but the temp. never moved beyond the 1/2 way mark on the guage..thermatic fan running well, which I noticed after switching motor off at home maybe the Mk2 alloy radiator really does the job ??