ok, this is a strech for jeep tech but if i don't get this problem fixed, my jeepin' vacation will be in jeopardy. my motorhome with 454 has been overheating at idle and up hills grades. normal driving flat or downhill runs cool. the radiator has a belt driven puller and 2 electric pusher fans. last summer, the lower part of the 2 piece fan shroud came loose and broke. i've replaced the shroud but it remains untested. this radiator looks like it will be a MF'er to exract. the rv shop wants $150 to do a basic flush. at this point neither is an option.

do the symptoms sound like a fan shroud problem? is there a radiator flush product available at auto parts stores and does it work? would the coolant additives that are supposed to lower the temp. help?

with all the radiator problems going around lately, i thought you guys might provide some good advice. just think of it as a jeep with a 454 towing 15,000 lbs.

where is the rad situated? in front? does it get air force fed to it while moving down the road? if it does i would say its a different problem. going up hill at 40 should be about the same amount of air as the fan puts out. if it is not force fed, then it could be a shroud problem. i'm not sure about avaliability, but a couple of years ago you used to be able to get a product that you put in the rad. that would break loose some of the gunk... have you tried calling?

If I remember right from other m.h.s Ive worked on, the grill/facia stuff must be removed- about 8 to 12 bolts. This allows the access for the rad. Might be a couple of tough to get to brackets- a ratchet style combo wrench is your friend. Then go about your buisness of undoin the elect. fans and etc. If ya rodd (sp) out your rad I think it is about 50-60 bux. As Sunder said there is stuff aftermarket through auto stores that break up the calcium and rust. Hmmm just a thought... what about "CLR"? I wonder if it would foam too much? I might have to read the bottle.

Good to see you got a hold of Weldinupafatone of norcal4x4. That is the guy I was tellin ya about b4. I have been "offline"-disconnected for a while now so I'm catchin up. LOL there will be wheelin and campin bud. I have yet to try my rig. I'll be seein ya there man.

I'm gettin back on the 26th (or so) from San Diego. When do you think you are gunna be in the area? ( I forgot)

Have fun and <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the reply's. i'm really hoping the fan shroud did the trick because it was fine before i broke it. one thing i'm worried about is the fact that i broke a blade or 2 and replaced the fan with a regular bbc fan and not the $200 factory one. it's an inch less in diameter but has 1 more blade. i just want to take any additional(cheap) precautions that i can. the radiator flush may be an urban legend. i've heard about it but have never seen it at an auto parts store. maybe i'll do a search. i've decided i'm making the trip regardless. if i've got to stop in the middle of the siskyous, so be it. it takes a long grade to spit the fluid out and if the shroud is any improvement at all, i should be ok. i let it idle for quite a while yesterday in the smog test line(which it passed). it warmed up a little but not excessive. if it's a miserable overheating nightmare, i'll pull the radiator when i get to my hometown in WA. that's where all my buddies and their tools, shops, and skills, are. here in phoenix, i pay retail for everything and i don't know anyone with dana 44's, 60's, and ford 9"'s sitting around on their property. i'm gettin' a little homesick just thinkin' about it.

Now them is great engines! What you have is an engine that likes to run hot. They are the darnedest hot runnin things you'd ever hope to see.
Make sure you have a NEW 195 deg thermostat in there. Then look to the radiator cap. Put a new one of those in there too. Those are the cheapest fixes you can get for the old girl. AND either one of them can be the problem.
Now for the gauge.. Motor homes gauges do not always display correctly.. Keep that in mind.
You did say it was blowin steam. If so then do the thermostat and the cap first and you might have the problem fixed.
Remember a colder thermostat can cause the engine to heat up!
Big JIm

i'm definitly getting a new cap cause when it overheated for the first time about 2000 mi. after the fan shroud incident coming out of bakersfield, it spit a bunch of coolant out. after i waited for it to cool down(while i made a nice dinner and watched the sunset)i tried to get the cap off to refill and it wouldn't budge. i finally got it but may have bent it a little in the process. as far as the thermostat, i don't think i'm gonna mess with it unless the new shroud, cap, and flush(if i even do that)doesn't help. if i overheat i'll pick up a new thermostat on the road and put it in. it's not the $3 bucks or the time, it's simply that my motorhome is a hundred and F'ing fifty degrees in there. besides, i'm gonna have all my tools('cause it's a wheelin' trip)and it would be much better to do it in cool northern cal than here. there aren't a whole lot of big hillclimbs(except maybe the grapevine) between PHX and northern cal. i think i'll be ok(i'm sure those were the last words of more than one person). if i do replace the thermostat, i'll definitely get a 195.

those rad flush are no urben mith i picked one up at wallfart.. worked okay as far as i could tell. whole lot of brown cruddy water/coolent came outa my donnor engine good luck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

thanks, wal mart is just past checker and autozone. pep boys a block past walmart(all within 2 mi. of my house). i'll just make a big loop looking for it. if i don't find it at one of those 4 places, i will be convinced it doesn't exist.