Alfa Pages

Spyderman · Alfasud Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Hampshire

Hi guys , haven't posted on here a while but I have a question.

I have a 1982 1.5 Sprint motor mounted in the back of my 550 Spyder replica. Always has had a propensity to overheat, possibly due to the long run the coolant system has to make from the middle of the car to the rad at the front + plus no air draught cooling when moving.

What sort of temperature does the engine like to run at?

I am looking at ways of increasing the cooling of the engine, possibly by putting the heater circuit back in place and plumbing it to a second rad. Or possibly using a oil cooler and sandwich plate.

Not excessively worried long as the current engine lasts for the summer, as I am hoping to go to another motor at the end of the year

Ben_nz · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:10 am Post subject:

The engines sit at the middle of the factory water temperature gauge (marked as 80 degrees) when on the open road. When in traffic though, the cooling fan will sometimes not turn on until the gauge reaches 95 degrees (2/3 scale), just to make sure the driver can't relax. Wink

I think I've heard people who race boxer Alfas sometimes having cooling issues, once their engines are putting out much more power than standard and are being run at race rpm for long stretches.

Vecchio Alfisti · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:23 am Post subject: Engine Temperature

The cut in temperature for the electric thermostaically controlled fan is 88-92 deg.C and the cut out temp is 82 - 78 deg C . I have one car which runs religiously at 80 deg c shown on the guage in the dashboard and another which shows 90 deg C. The warning light to indicate overheating comes on at 104 - 108 Deg C according to the Haynes manual. Fortunately I have never experienced it.

Hope that this is helpful. Smile

_________________
Alfa 33 1.7 QF I think maybe now I m not so sure

lee16v · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 12:22 pm Post subject:

Strangely mine is the complete opposite.
Normal running temp is 40-50 even on a long trip and only when i'm stuck in really heavy traffic will it rise up to 80-90 and the fan cut in. Is this normal?

gritsop · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 1:53 pm Post subject:

Hi,

My 33 runs at highway speeds at 85 C with no tendency to move lower or higher.

When at traffic the maximun reading reaches 100 C but never higher.

Lee, it is high time you had this thermostat replaced!

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

bobbber · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 1:53 pm Post subject:

Lee,

No that's NOT normal! You need a new thermostat! Low running temperatures like this lead to premature engine wear.

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

Spyderman · Alfasud Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Hampshire

Cheers guys for the assistance so far

I find the overheating lamp seems to come on, although the temp gauge doesn't indicate much over 80-85c

Ordered a oil cooler sandwich plate to see if I can remove some heat via oil cooler instead of plumbing in a heater matrix

paulhide · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 9:15 am Post subject:

Yes so does mine, Spyderman, I simply assume that there is a fault with the warning light as the fan always comes on at about 95 degrees and cools back to nearly 80, which is as it should be.
_________________
Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

lee16v · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 11:45 am Post subject:

oops

Thanks Than, Bob
I've ordered one today at the reasonable price of £15 and it will be fitted as soon as i get it!

Spyderman · Alfasud Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Hampshire

Has anyone else fitted an oil cooler , if so what sort of size did you go for

bobbber · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

paulhide · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

Yes bobbber, but in my defence I am proud to say that that is the only problem on the car along with the fact that the interior light doesn't come on when the front door is opened! Oh and the rear passenger door central locking sometimes sticks, but c'mon that's pretty good isn't it? Love the cooking oil thing.
_________________
Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

lee16v · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:40 am Post subject:

That's a top site you have there Bob! Been there many times!
Looks straight forward after removing most of the engine Laughing

bobbber · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 2:19 pm Post subject:

I presume you don't need new inlet manifold gaskets then for the removal of the inlet manifold, after seeing how the 16v is? Seems like just a pipe connector with a rubber pipe off it?

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

bobbber · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:

Most of the articles are thanks to Gritsop!! He's doing a magic job!

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

lee16v · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 11:16 am Post subject:

Yeah you're right Bob, no gaskets needed as it's just held by rubber tube and jubilee clips........ 2 minute job to get the plenum off!

bobbber · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 11:27 am Post subject:

You lucky bar-steward! Laughing

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

mt · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:46 pm Post subject:

bobbber · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject:

Take some photos when you 'unseize' them.... and send me some text about it... and I'll add it to the site if you like.

That's what it's for.

Thanks!

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

mt · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject:

lee16v · Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject:

Hi,
fitted the thermostat today....engine nice and cosy at 80 deg C
Also fitted non return oil filter as Bob told me off at SAD Laughing

knight · Guest

I too run a 1.5 sud motor in a beach buggy......and it used to overheat.......when you removed the cabin heater plumbing how did you do it?.......originally I just placed a piece of link-pipe connecting the heater outlet to the heater inlet.......and it kept overheating.......I then realised the piece of pipe was allowing water to bypass the radiator and NOT COOL the water.......so I put a pipe clamp on the piece of heater blanking link-pipe and all was well, as it forced everything through the radiator......so check that while you fit a new thermostat

bobbber · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:22 am Post subject:

Very good Lee - and don't let me see you running it with a white one ever again!!!! Laughing

Bob
_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

bobbber · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 11:23 am Post subject:

And CERTAINLY not one which shows you give money to those Halfords ppl Cool

_________________
Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

Spyderman · Alfasud Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Posts: 48 Location: Hampshire