running hot

[28 fast faton]

I have just brought out my restored Model a. It seems to run hot and loses power at the top end with some pre detination. I have a used honey comb rad with prestone and water running throught the system. I am noticing some blow by on from the oil filler tube. Will distilled water in place of antifreeze help or is there anything else that might help. Thanks in advance.

[1931 flamingo]

Where's the timing set?? A/freeze better than water. If running just water use an anti rust agent. JMO

Paul in CT

[Steve Wastler]

Have many thoughts, but will leave it to the guys who think they are the only ones with the only correct answer or opinion....

[Tom Wesenberg]

What's the history?
Did it overheat before it was restored?
What was done to restore it?

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by 28 fast faton

I have just brought out my restored Model a. It seems to run hot and loses power at the top end with some pre detination. I have a used honey comb rad with prestone and water running throught the system. I am noticing some blow by on from the oil filler tube. Will distilled water in place of antifreeze help or is there anything else that might help. Thanks in advance.

Put in a new radiator. Once you do that, you can run anything you want in it (but if you use water, add a couple of bottles of anti-rust).

[ford1]

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honey comb radiators are not the best type for cooling, my guess is its the problem and so does jim ,excessive blow by is caused by worn rings or an overly worn cylinder

[Milton]

If the restoration included new piston rings, some oil filler tube blowby will be normal until the rings seat. If the head was removed, retorqueing the head after operation will normally be necessary.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by 28 fast faton

I have just brought out my restored Model a. It seems to run hot and loses power at the top end with some pre detination. I have a used honey comb rad with prestone and water running throught the system. I am noticing some blow by on from the oil filler tube. Will distilled water in place of antifreeze help or is there anything else that might help. Thanks in advance.

Really hard to answer with limited info, like what top end are you trying to run, etc. Oil out the filler is normal when driving "balls out!"
My thoughts: If everything is in top condition, timing set properly, I suggest a 160 degree thermostat, drop a large head nail in top of overflow tube, drive it the same & report back. You might be just blowing out NEEDED coolant, oh! and be sure to re-torque the head, COLD! Bill W.
Also try richening the GAV at higher speeds, too lean will cause overheating.

[ctlikon0712]

Your used Radiator might have allot of oily residue inside the radiator that inhibits the heat from soaking onto the copper coils and fins. If so use a radiator cleaner and flush it out and refill with water with a rust inhibitor in it. It also could be clogged, use someones laser thermometer and see if the radiator has cold spots, if so it might need “rodded out”. Deionized or Distilled water conducts heat away better than Poly Ethyl Glycol, or Antifreeze, even if its cut 50%.

[columbiA]

Honey comb rads cant be rodded out and they look terrible on an A.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by columbiA

Honey comb rads cant be rodded out and they look terrible on an A.

Terrible??? A good CLEAN honeycomb is a very efficient dissapater of heat if it is kept clean from new with quality coolant & changed regularly.
If I sound pissy, I am, seems whenever someone posts good proven info, some seem to just want to argue in order to prove they know more than Joe Blow. Some problems are caused by lack of basic knowledge & they come on, whining and don't tell you the whole story! Like pumping in water pump grease, watching to see if it squirts out somewhere and later comes out with a mystereious overheating problem 'cause the cooling system is full of grease. Like Paul Harvey might say, "If you want real help, tell us the rest of the story!" If you've messed up, fess up, an honest confession is good for the soul!
Bill W.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

fess up, an honest confession is good for the soul!
Bill W.

It also leads to a more responsible and correct diagnosis. If you call the doctor with a snotty nose and tell him your foot hurts he won't give you anything for a cold.

[Richard Wilson]

Some antifreeze will foam in some Model A's. Foam does not cool very well. Your brand is one that tends to foam.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

Some antifreeze will foam in some Model A's. Foam does not cool very well. Your brand is one that tends to foam.

Good point! Foam in coolant or gear oils is counter productive! The only USEFUL foam is in whipped cream & shaving foam. Bill W.

[CarlG]

Maybe also in a Lemon Merangue Pie?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Maybe also in a Lemon Merangue Pie?

Dang! Dang! Dang! Eddie's Pastry is closed!!! I'll just have to go to bed. Bill W.

[28 fast faton]

Has anyone ever tried cleaning the rad with CLR. just wondering if anyone has had any experiene with this.

[1931 flamingo]

Do a search, just about everything has been tried. Many guys report good luck with the vinegar.
Paul in CT