Didn't I tell you guys? The problem went away, it hasn't happened again ever since I went back to the stock bumper.

Also FYI when I asked around to other car buffs, bumper was one of the suggestions I kept hearing. So even if it sounds strange, it appears to make a difference.

You also have to remember how hot Phoenix summers are. You can go on all day long about humidity this and humidity that, but the engine doesn't care about that. Not very many places in the US will get as hot as it gets here in metro-Phoenix area. I say this because I was able to travel with the aftermarket bumper on and not have any issues when I was traveling through California, Utah, and Nevada. It just wasn't quite as hot outside when I was going up those uphill highways, it makes a difference believe it or not.

So... what I believe that the heating exchange capability of the whater system is marginaly enough seems to be true..

By the way
What about oil level and quality
Have seen that if oil level is on the E-side my temp increases a bit
if it is on full its cooler..

Have you also change the - i would like to be an oil cooler - oil filter base???

It's funny you mention that... The newer Sportage DO NOT HAVE an oil cooler under the oil filter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I guess Kia decided they didn't need it. I think the change was made either in 98 or 2000, anybody remember? I remember this was discusses before and I think Axe or someone knows what year it changed.

I wonder if that makes them have more of a tendency to run hot.

My 96 had one, my 2002 does not. My 96 ran cooler with the same radiator and electric fan setup than my 2002 runs now.

I have considered installing an aftermarket air-cooled oil cooler, there are some nice-looking ones on Ebay, just for the well-being of my engine. Your thoughts on this? I think there are some on Ebay specifically for the Sportage.

My 98 did not have one either....Prolly when the change took place....Not sure.

What oil cooler are u looking at?
Now I may want one too........ <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" />

het Nuke, I think there is a past post someone has a et. oil lines filter etc, I think someone also had a 2 filter one if you go that way use anti-drain back filters, if not you will have a dry start up.

A long time ago I had a 1965 vw bug, I put in a 3qt, add a sump, a ph8 filter a xturnal cooler, held about 7 1/2 qts. oil, never over heated.

I'm having the same problem Nuke is. I've only had mine get hot once when I was sitting on a steep hill pointed nose down running at idle for over 30 minutes. This was 2 years after purchasing the Sportage new and it never happened again. Now all of the sudden it's getting hot when I turn on the AC and push the engine really hard just driving around town. I can get it up to freeway speed, but it starts to get how. Then if I start going up a hill it really starts to climb in temp. Sitting at idle or just moving around town at low speed its fine though.

I took it to the radiator shop and they power flushed it, checked it for flow, and discovered my radiator is partially clogged. They recommended a new radiator. That's the next step for me.

Dennis, how did you test your engine after you over heated? I'm hoping I didn't damage mine. I didn't have a hose leak like you did, but it did peg the needle and I did have it run almost dry before I could get to a point where I could put more liquid in it.

I need to do a pressure test on it to see if I've burned the rings or caused a head gasket leak.

So, if we can get Nuke's problem solved, it'll probably solve mine too.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Actually it might not :S

I might have had a different problem because I already replaced my radiator. You can still replace yours and that might fix your problem for good. I am past that already.

Nuke,

Hopefully! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

However, it happened all of the sudden, so it might be the same problem. I had little pieces of what looked like rubber bands floating around in my radiator when they flushed it and the shop said it was the gasket coming apart in the radiator and that I needed a new one. It could have created a blockage in the block. So when I get the money for the radiator I'll have them flush it again. It'll be worth the money if it fixes the problem.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />