Quote:
Originally Posted by X5chemist
It's a lesson. Run the best oil available. I had an old 305 SB Chevy reach 270+F. It ran a short drive. Fixed a coolant hose and drove it home. Changed the oil and ran it. No issues. A one time event is possible. The next one won't be so good though.
Good luck!
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Similar story here: When my '66 Chevelle stiil had the 327 SB in it (in '96), I had just installed a used Corvette electric fan in it (replacing the steel flex fan that was on it when I'd just bought it, a few months previously), and had taken it out of the garage for the first time, after putting in new floors and interior upholstery. I had driven it about 20 miles when the fan quit, and the coolant temp rose to 270-275 degrees.
Luckily, I was about a mile from an auto parts store I had gone to before, so I figured I could fix or replace whatever went wrong with the electric fan. I found that the generic used relay (with no amperage markings on it) had melted, so I bought two 30 amp Bosch relays at the store, plus some more coolant.
After hanging out at the auto parts store (and the hamburger joint next door) for about 1.5 hours, I installed the new relay, let some steam out of the radiator (refilling it with about 1/2 gallon coolant) and drove home. The temp was still about 210 at the start, and remained there until I got on the highway, where it fell to 190 (I was using a 160 degree T-stat). At home, I checked the head gaskets for leaks (remember when it was easy to see everything on an engine?), found none, and all was good. I still have that engine on a stand in my garage, minus rocker arms and carburetor, waiting for another project that probably will never come.
That engine, with a '68 block (cast iron), had 462 fuelie heads from '62-64 (also cast iron), with good, new, Fel-Pro head gaskets installed, so there was no warpage, I guess. Gotta love those old SBC's.
I learned to only use "known good" relays after that, from trusted brands, and always have a spare relay in the car/truck with the electric fan installed (my X5 does, and my HHR Panel has several identical relays in the fuse box, that could be swapped in case of need). I haven't checked the Lexus' fusebox for duplicates yet, though.
My two pickup trucks have viscous fans, not electric, so I carry a spare serpentine belt and tensioner in my 2500HD; but, the old GMC only gets a new belt every few years, and since it never goes further than 40 miles from home, I haven't stocked it with spares (it's the wife's truck, with no toolbox onboard.