Hi Dave;
Your over heating problem except for the leak you describe sounds like the
classic Tiger problem. 205 degrees is not overheating but 205 degrees at 50
degree ambient would mean that you would probably go over 260 degrees on a 90
degree day.
Stock Tiger cooling is speed sensitive and the major problem is the air
restriction behind the radiator. Cooling required goes up by about the square
of the speed but air through the radiator on a stock Tiger begans to peak out
around 60 MPH. The only way the car can continue to cool is for the water
temperature to rise and the limit to the rise is when the cap blows.
Assuming that you have checked the components in the cooling system such as
the waterpump, hoses, and water passages, and they are in good shape, then
there are three basic areas that can be modified to improve Tiger cooling.
They are;
1.increase air flow through the radiator system
2 improve the heat transfer from the coolant to the air
3. Improve the efficiency of the engine
Modifications to all three of these areas will usually be required to
accomplish a "good cooling" goal.You will read many ways to improve cooling
and they will usually fall under one of these basic categories.
My simple definition of "good cooling" in a car is when the operator doesn't
have to make ANY consessions to their driving to keep the radiator cap from
blowing.
Maybe some of you have comments to add in the area of cooling, or would like
to elaborate on these basic areas, or would like to point out something I've
over looked or errored in.
John Logan
|