bamaguy
LVC Member
Well, I have been dealing with a long-time overheating problem on a 2001 LS v6. Did all the usual stuff:
-DCCV
- degas bottle
- thermostat
- metal stat housing
- upper radiator pipe
- hoses
- convert fan to electric
- etc.
The overheating continued despite all of this and finally, I replaced the original radiator when I noticed white chalky material on the passenger side plastic tank. It now appears to be fixed. Finally!!
I ended up pulling the radiator from the top. It is not easy at all, though I can't say that it appeared from the bottom would be any easier. Since there wasn't too much on the Board as far as tips, I thought I would add:
- plan about 6 hours and take your time so you don't damage anything
- get new hose clamps and hoses where possible
- if you are able to swap to an electric fan from the stock hydraulic fan and recirculate the fluid back on itself (I cut the feed and send lines and then spliced them together using a brass fitting), then you will make the effort a fair bit easier as you have more room and you can disconnect that line and move it when you need to.
- it takes a lot of back and forth movement.
- I jacked up one side at a time to have more access
- you have to unscrew the condenser first and then the oil cooler and there are two more bolts than the Chilton manual says.
- don't unscrew the oil cooler upper mounting brackets all the way, just loosen and flip the bracket to the side
- you may have to bend an open end wrench to almost 90 degrees for those last two screws to gain useful access. I believe I used an old 5/16 for the job
- I had to degas twice. The initial time after completing the job and then again after a day of driving.
Next up - the catalytic converter.
-DCCV
- degas bottle
- thermostat
- metal stat housing
- upper radiator pipe
- hoses
- convert fan to electric
- etc.
The overheating continued despite all of this and finally, I replaced the original radiator when I noticed white chalky material on the passenger side plastic tank. It now appears to be fixed. Finally!!
I ended up pulling the radiator from the top. It is not easy at all, though I can't say that it appeared from the bottom would be any easier. Since there wasn't too much on the Board as far as tips, I thought I would add:
- plan about 6 hours and take your time so you don't damage anything
- get new hose clamps and hoses where possible
- if you are able to swap to an electric fan from the stock hydraulic fan and recirculate the fluid back on itself (I cut the feed and send lines and then spliced them together using a brass fitting), then you will make the effort a fair bit easier as you have more room and you can disconnect that line and move it when you need to.
- it takes a lot of back and forth movement.
- I jacked up one side at a time to have more access
- you have to unscrew the condenser first and then the oil cooler and there are two more bolts than the Chilton manual says.
- don't unscrew the oil cooler upper mounting brackets all the way, just loosen and flip the bracket to the side
- you may have to bend an open end wrench to almost 90 degrees for those last two screws to gain useful access. I believe I used an old 5/16 for the job
- I had to degas twice. The initial time after completing the job and then again after a day of driving.
Next up - the catalytic converter.
