Hmmmm…interesting idea…at least if I’m only worried about France… and French temps will probably never go below 15-20c at night anyway.
I like it.
Anyone see a flaw with this?
It’s an inexpensive project, give it a go but others do say make sure it is a Mazda part as the pattern parts are sometimes not up to the job.
It’s an inexpensive project, give it a go but others do say make sure it is a Mazda part as the pattern parts are sometimes not up to the job.
Actually, thinking about it, I do. I’m just trying to find ways of putting off what I really know. The Rad needs replacing…
Hi
Two thoughts, firstly you mention that you have A/C, has the A/C condenser rad ever been checked to make sure that the air flow through it is not restricted and reducing the airflow to the cooling rad and secondly, what sort of grill is on your car (if you have a grill)? Some after market grills can restrict airflow which may not cause a problem until you put a high demand on the cooling system.
If you have a grill, do you have badges mounted on it or anything obstructing it?
Richard.
I believe that autos are just more sensiting to overheating than manuals, it may be a feature rather than a fault with your car. You seems to have ruled out all the possible causes really .
I’m pretty sure that Mazda issued a TSB about not fitting the accessory front fog lamps that fit in the air intake to automatics as they restrict the air flow and cause overheating.
I tried a grill for a while, but ended up taking it off a couple of days later.
Wondered about the A/C rad restricting flow and one day spent far too long with a small pen knife straitening as many as I could before going crazy. Also once in a while gently turn the hose on the front rad to dislodge any dust and the like.
I just wish it would overheat in the UK so I could test things as I do them before finding out in the middle of France.
Will let you know what happens in a few weeks.
Hmm, if you are prepared to cheat then it might be possible to create an artificial overheat condition. But be very careful; it is cheating!
Cheat 1. Put a nice powerful fan heater right in front of the radiator grille with the engine on tick-over for ten minutes or so, so that the ingoing air is as hot as that sunny Pyrenean melted-tar temperature. BEWARE! This could cook the paintwork, radiators and engine so be very careful and monitor the temperatures, especially the body panels (Optical thermometer very useful here). If it copes with this abuse then the cooling system is probably working OK within its limits, but the radiator is simply just not big enough to handle the engine at full power.
Cheat 2, Cover different zones of the radiator with progressively bigger patches and see if it copes OK with normal driving in UK. If when one zone is covered it cannot cope but in another zone it is happy then the happy zone is the blocked one.
However, the quickest and simplest solution is to shoehorn in a bigger radiator, thicker, wider, taller etc. Thicker is probably easiest.
Good Luck, let us know how you get on.
Talking of cheats. If the car is giving problems whilst you are away you could resort to the age old cheat and run the car without a thermostat. This was common practice with Triumph Stags back in the 1970’s.
Gra
I have heard some engines overheat if they have a blocked or partially blocked air filter the engine will struggle for clean air and a struggling engine may over heat as well as smoke a little.Just a thought.
Just a quick update about the trip.
Just before I left, I decided to check/change the thermostat just in case. Turned out it had an aftermarket 82*, one-chamber stat. Put in a proper Mazda 88* two-chamber stat, as well as a rad flush/drain/flush/drain/refill with 65/35 ratio, and very glad to report that the car was NOT overheating… 
…at least for the couple of days before it broke down… 
Will be asking about possible causes on another thread, but car had to be left at a local garage with a friendly but flummoxed mechanic. Hoping to get it repatriated as soon as possible.
Was running great up until then!