Temp problems

[webfoot1]

Okay fellas....I've got a 16x7 Marks Hull Chevy 350 DD.....She is heating up something wicked on me. It may just be the crappy electrical gauge, I'm swappin' it out with a manual one ASAP.

I swapped the thermostat to a 180....flushed the radiator...checked the water pump.....it even has a fan!!!

I'm to the point of stabbing someone if I don't get this fixed.

It has a 3 core radiator....I'm thinkin' of going to a 5 core....good idea? What is the norm? And can several of you guys post up some pics of how your radiator is mounted?

PLEASE HELP.

 

[bravo1218]

Well lets get to it. First where are you? If you fill out your profile someone near by could help you out.
How long has this been going on. Is this a new problem or has it always done it. If your boat worked once with a 3 core radiator then putting in a 5 might help but is that solving the problem? You have a fan on the radiator, you meen an electric? When does it overheat, at idle, under load?
Do you have acess to an infared thermometer? They are great in checking out problems like this and nowdays you can buy one for $99.
I will be glad to help out if I can
Tim

 

[Waterthunder]

First I would do a pressure test to verify their are no blown head gaskets, cracked heads or a block. Allot of people sell used boats because they have a problem. If your pressure test comes out OK the flush the radiator. Your right about trying another gauge I myself always start a new boat or motor on two gauges 90% of the time they read different. You can buy a pressure tester at a parts store and don't be afraid to pump her up to around 35 pounds or more. I have came across this problem 20 or so times if ya start at A and end at Z you will find the problem.

 

[loco pato]

I Bought an old alumatech 15 by 8 when I was right out of college and it was all I could afford but the guy in Dallas that was in the used airboat buisness was pretty slick. Well to say the least the engine always ran hot never figured it out and tried everything, finally sucked an intake valve and had to build a new motor then the old belt reduction starting falling apart(found out was one of the first they ever built and they wanted it back as an conversation piece) , then the new fangled powershift prop had the leading edges coming off in the middle of hunting season. I swore I would never buy another used airboat and those were just a few of the issues I had. I waited almost ten more years until I could afford a new boat, If your going to buy a used airboat you better be a good mechanic and if you buy a new one you better be at the least fairly mechanicly oriented Just my two cents . I never did get the running hot issue completley fixed on that boat. Calm Seas.....

 

[Olf Art]

Webfoot, are you running an expansion tank above the thermostat, or some other way to burp the radiator? It's possible that you water level is a little low.

 

[loco pato]

Thermostat? Never had one in an airboat, must be cold where your at...180f pretty warm my new boat hardly ever sees 165F.... do most of yall run thermostats?

 

[Anonymous]

I run a 160 to slow the flow down boat runs at 180 now and doesn't overheat. With out a thermostat it runs hotter.

 

[webfoot1]

First off, I'm in central Illinois.

The boat was used, it's on it's way to the shop tonight to check out the compression and see what they can do with it. Hopefully they will tell me the temp is fine and I have a POS gauge. I'm starting to think that may be the case.

Yes the boat is used. Yes, I may have got suckered in on this one. Or, it just maybe something simple.....just gotta keep working top to bottom to figure it out.

I do have an expansion tank, flushed the beast three days ago and all fluids are at perfect level.

The guy I bought it from might have lied to me? NEVER!!! Well, it happens to everyone at some point, I just want to get this thing under control before any real damage is done.

 

[Priorty1]

What's the timing set at?