The most important aspect of airflow management is a shroud and well-placed fan in order to utilize the full area of the radiator core. Airflow management is crucial in low speed or idle temperature drop. The function of either type of fan is to keep airflow through the radiator at such a rate as to maintain temperature drop (approximately 30 to 40 degrees from radiator inlet to outlet). At low speed or idle you no longer have the luxury of ramming air through the grille and have to rely on fans, either mechanical or electric. When the car slows down or gets stuck in traffic and overheats the only thing that has changed is the airflow and coolant flow-airflow being the more important of the two. If the car runs within the 10-25 degrees of thermostat while making horsepower you can pretty much rule out a radiator problem because it's handling the heat at the engine's peak output. Think about this: Should your hot rod be overheating? At highway speeds, your engine is making horsepower and horsepower is heat. (Sometimes it helps to drill an 1/8-inch hole in the thermostat to allow air to bubble to escape from under the thermostat on the initial fill with a new motor.) A radiator full of coolant is most efficient. An overflow canister (tank or bottle) and appropriate cap keep the radiator full and "air out" the radiator. (As retired GM hot weather engineer Scot Leon told us, "It's amazing what industrious little critters can store in some unusual places in your hot rod especially between the radiator and condenser." Make sure your fan(s) are rotating in the right direction and, remember, a high pressure system can run hotter than a low pressure system without boiling. On cars with A/C check for debris in between the condenser and radiator, especially after winter storage. A problem that typically arises with longer hoses. Don't overlook the obvious, like a collapsed lower radiator hose. Debris can obstruct airflow but be difficult to see due to the tight quarters inherent with most hot rods. Sometimes an overheating vehicle just requires a good visual inspection.
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