Radiator: Koyo copper, Griffin, Mishimoto

[chituntang]

Hello everybody. Well to make the story short, I had an overheating problem with my 95 240sx with S13 SR installed (a long time already). The main problem I have is when I turn on the A/C. Within 15 minutes of highway driving ~70mph, it will overheat on me. As soon as I turn off the A/C and wait a couple minutes, it will drop back to normal temperature. I have since installed the bottom panel, but the problem is worse. I guess it is because the heat takes longer to leave the engine bay.
I went away from US to HK for a month and a half (I come to US for school) and when I come back for school, the DDS (the new DMV) would not give me my driver license because they .... whatever, that has passed.
Now, I have like over a month to redo some of the things on the car.

My car now:
Stock SR
Stock Turbo
Hybird Intercooler with HKS hotpipe and bov
Griffin Radiator
Altima e fan (the one without the shroud)
Project Silvia downpipe an test pipe
Tanabe exhaust
underbody (engine) panel
Walbro fuel pump



1. Relocate the battery (damn miata battery cost like 100 bucks. Get a kit and a normal battery cost within 150, and when the battery dies again, replace it only cost 40ish)
2. Upper radiator panel (lets see if it helps more)
3. New engine harness
4. This is why I post here. Should I change my setup? If so, I am thinking about the new Koyo copper radiator (49mm). Copper radiator cools better than Alum, plus it is only 4mm skinner than the Alum "racing" one form KOYO. I am looking at Mishimoto one because I can also use their fan shroud and e fan, or can I use the fan shroud and e fan setup on other radiator?

Or should I just use new coolant, add some water wetter, new hoses, and new thermostat with the upper radiator panel and try out if it works? Or does anybody knows if the smaller/bigger Altmia fan makes a big difference?

Thanks in advance. Please forgive me for any errors.
Jesse

[fliprayzin240sx]

Put the stock shroud and clutch fan back on, see if that helps. Also, you still got the electric fan for the A/C condenser? You could have a clogged up condenser causing it to overheat and affect your radiator.

[chituntang]

So you are saying I should remove the radiator and the intercooler and use pressure washer to clean it?

Thanks for the reply

[hOngsterr]

maybe flushing out your coolant system?

[chituntang]

I use those chemical flushing, but did not pressure flushing. Is it the same or one is better than the other?

Jesse

[SexPanda]

Have you checked to make sure your fans stay on when the AC is on? Also, have you made sure the fans are pulling, and not pushing? Sounds dumb, but I've seen it.

[chituntang]

Fans stays on, unless they turn themselves off during driving. And yes, they are pulling.

Jesse

[Blues13]

Check to make sure there's no air or leaks in your system and coolant levels are up.. your setup sounds mild so you shouldn't have any cooling problems.

If everything else checks out, I would put a good shroud on those fans.

you have air in the system........ this is obvious. that, or a thermostat/waterpump problem, possibly a blockage in your radiator


because at 70mph you could have gods-fan and it wouldnt make a difference. the problem isnt in airflow, its in cooling. an air pocket in your system would cause this, or blockage in radiator.

[240sxxs]

why dont u wired your fan alway on...that mean it alway suck hot air out...and is very helpful when you're in hot weather..i live in arizona and my fan alway on...it spin slower when they motor is not hot i guess but when the motor is hot u can see the fan speed up...and a new radiator would help....get 5 core radiator from trust..lol..

[hOngsterr]

make no sense.

[Kouki_Mnster]

Mishimoto just redesigned their stuff, it looks pretty good now especially that Aluminum Shroud and Fan setup its a pretty good fan and shroud. I'm picking up my Mishi radiator and fan shroud from a local shop, Dynamic Autosports in Lake Forest for crazzzy cheap.

[lflkajfj12123]

Originally Posted by ixfxi

you have air in the system........ this is obvious. that, or a thermostat/waterpump problem, possibly a blockage in your radiator


because at 70mph you could have gods-fan and it wouldnt make a difference. the problem isnt in airflow, its in cooling. an air pocket in your system would cause this, or blockage in radiator.

boooooom

[steve shadows]

Assuming your cooling system just sucks and your head gasket and everything else is in good shape you need to follow my exact instructions and you will solve your cooling issue forever.

1. if you are sticking with electric fan make sure you are using one that flows at least as much CFMs as a stock Nissan Altima fan, or you can use two of these b14 fans they work great.

2. Try a PWR radiator. It is smaller in thickness than the Koyo or the other makes but it works MUCH Better. The reason why is because it is a TWO PASS radiator. Which means that the coolant passes through the core twice in the same time it sits in a regular Koyo. This mean the coolant stays in there longer and gets more AIR TIME to release heat to the air.

3. MOST IMPORTANT TO HELP - Swirl Pot. BUY ONE. you need to invest in a swirl pot. It basically is a constant bleeding system for your cooling system.

Its only about 90 bucks from Greddy and instal is very simple, the kit comes with everything. If you search for Swirl Pots there is a thread that Dousan did and also a write up that I did a long time ago - but it's in the premie section.

This will make the biggest difference of all and is a very cheap and good additon to add especially if, in your case, its some sort of air in the system issue.

This will keep your idle at the right spot and air out of your cooling system eliminating hot spots and keeping the car cool even after some serious track time.

Cheers