Overheating engine 1.4 1984 340DL - Help!!

Post by **x19dude** » 06 Aug 2004 01:11 pm

Hi Guys,
I've never posted here before - I just found the site today.As you can probably see from my signature, I have quite a few cars but am always going to keep my 340DL as it has sentimental value to me(even if its not worth that much).Anyway, the problem I'm having is the engine is overheating on me. So much so that I have have to replace the thermostat and more recently, the head gasket. I know the water pump is working ok - which leaves only the radiator, which as far as I know, is as old as the car(the car has been in the family since new and I have owned it for 8 years). Perhaps it is time for a re core of the radiator? The engine overheats(boils over going up long hills and inspite of having a new headgasket and thermostat.
Anyway, any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Paul.
340pw

Post by **5lab** » 06 Aug 2004 01:24 pm

have you tried running water thru the radiator at high speed? when the engine is warmed up and you've been driving the car, feel the radiator. should be cool on one side and warmer on the other. if this is not the case it sounds like there is a blockage somewhere. you can buy a new radiator fairly cheap (from a breakers) and they are quite easy to fit

Post by **Duvel78** » 06 Aug 2004 03:17 pm

The electric fan supposed to cool the radiator works?

What's the position of the needle for the temp? You see the red light?

Post by **5lab** » 06 Aug 2004 03:38 pm

when the car is moving that fan should practically never come on, as its no real match for the airflow thru the grill anywyas..

Post by **Duvel78** » 06 Aug 2004 03:46 pm

The cooling system is maybe fured, there are products for that but be prepared to have small leaks after that...

Post by **special** » 06 Aug 2004 05:10 pm

if your goin to replace the radiator replace it with a 1.7 or 2.0
dont know if the 2.0 will fit but i know the 1.7 does
i fitted the 1.7 to my 1.4 and she never gets to hot now

Post by **Duvel78** » 06 Aug 2004 05:18 pm

It's a 1984 model, it must be the small radiator used by Volvo untill 85... (same as in my car, with the fan between the grill and the radiator)

Post by **special** » 06 Aug 2004 05:22 pm

oh now i feel silly

didnt see that it was a 1984 mine a 1990

Post by **wjp01908** » 06 Aug 2004 07:00 pm

Is it actually steam in the water or has the head gasket let go again? Have a sniff in the header tank when thing have calmed down and see if it smells of exhaust, or run it for a few minutes from cold and see if there are pinhead sized bubbles in the coolant.

The heads on B14s will bend big time if they get so much as a whiff of overheating and will usually need skimming to get a good seal again - was this done in the case of your head replacement?.

It is not difficult to replace a HG on a B14 as long as you don`t disturb the liners (leave 1 centre bolt in and tap side of head to free it, then lift) and clamp them while the head is off

If the gasket is OK then it could be any number of things: radiator blocked as posted, loose drive belt, thermostat shot (test it in a pan of water), manifold air leak giving a weak mixture etc. etc. Any number of things really.

I`ve seen one that was running very warm because some numpty had filled it with neat antifreeze...

Will

Post by **tainja** » 09 Aug 2004 04:03 am

Just went through an overheating problem with my 1982 345 GL; had the radiator rodded at a local radiator shop and now runs cool all the time even when I leave car idling for over 15 minutes. Rodding is much cheaper than buying a new radiator too.

Good luck
Mike

Post by **x19dude** » 09 Aug 2004 08:40 am

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the replies. The thermostat is brand new. There is no steam from the header bottle, but the water does bubble after I switch the car off, which it did just before I got the head gasket replaced. The oil cap is not showing any mayonnaise (oil/water mix)on it this time, like it did last time. The head was skimmed, but it overheated so badly last time, I was told it would not tolerate another skimming if the head went again. The radiator is the small one with the fan placed between the grill and the radiator - Does this mean that the 1.7ltr radiator will fit? One final question, what does getting the radiator rodded mean? Is that the same as getting it re-cored? - Phew - who would think overheating problems would be so annoying.

-

By the way, -the fan is still working and kicking in when it needs to.
Thanks,
Paul.

Post by **tainja** » 09 Aug 2004 04:16 pm

rodding the radiator means taking it apart and cleaning it out. We had the same problems and when they opened the radiator it had a handful of dirt and rust in it; once cleaned it's as cool as ever. You shouldn't need to re-cord it but a good radiator shop will help.

Good luck

Post by **tainja** » 14 Aug 2004 08:48 am

Just wondering how you made out? Let us know

Post by **x19dude** » 18 Aug 2004 01:12 pm

The radiator was really shot to pieces when I took it out. It had previously been welded in about 3-4 places and was VERY VERY rusted on the inside. I managed to find a later small radiator (off the shelf old volvo stock for really really cheap!)which is the wrong way around for the fan. I've yet to fit it but hopefully I should be able to drill some holes in the surrounding to get the fan to fit it.
I'll let you know.
Cheers,
Paul.