How to cool down

[Jonah D'Avella]

When sitting in an intersection for about 3 minutes in 90 degrees weather, steam starts to come out of my overflow tube. It that bad? Also, are there any better fan options? Mabey a steeper pitch, or even electric fan, although electric is not prefered.

[Scott_Conger]

Jonah

I don't know if you're doing this, but for one thing, do not sit for any length of time with the timer retarded. When idling or waiting for a light or anything else, be sure the timer is advanced such that the engine has attained it's highest speed at idle. Some folks will throw the lever "up" and let the exhaust bark out the back while sitting and that will heat up the car very quickly.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Do you have some decent tension on your fan belt? The fan can still be spinning even with a slipping belt. Just spinning fast enough perhaps.

[Jonah D'Avella]

how would i check tention?

[Norman Kling]

We were in a parade in July. Our fan is in good working condition, and we did a lot of slow driving and waiting with the engine idling. No overheating problems. However, several cars did get too hot and pulled out of the parade. I don't know about some of the other cars, but the car of one of our members had their trailer parked near ours. She said as soon as she pulled out and started driving back toward the trailer, the car cooled down. Well, it turned out the fan belt was too loose and slipping. As long as the car was moving the air blew through the radiator and cooled it, but when idling, it was getting no air because the belt was loose.
Norm

[Steve Jelf]

how would i check tention?

Notice that the pulleys have a slight bulge in the center. Those bulges will keep the belt centered unless it's too tight. Adjust the belt just tight enough to turn the fan without wandering off center.


Overheating can be caused by:

1 timing too retarded and fuel too lean;

2 cooling system crud;

3 radiator kaput.

Fix #1 with a change of driving habits; fix #2 with cleaning; fix #3 with a new Berg's. I specify new because of this question: Why is this old radiator at the swap meet for sale and not still on a car?

http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG96.html

[DHort]

If you sit at an intersection for 3 minutes you got there too fast. Always look a block in front of you. If you can tell the light will turn red, just slow down. 20mph is fine. Do not worry about the guy behind you. He isn't going to get anywhere faster. The slower you go the cooler your car will be. Maybe get that bumper sticker that says 'I only have 2 speeds'. Try to stay in the right lane so you can laugh at the guy in the lane next to you who has to stop at light after light. And always, enjoy the ride.

p.s. Listen to Steve. He has a lot of good ideas, and he is never in the fast lane.

[bobt]

Jonah, First let me say how much I enjoyed seeing you at Luray in your "Taxi". Are you running a flat tube radiator? Next time idling at a stop and steaming, leave the engine running and get out and feel the metal pipe that is on the lower radiator hose and goes to the left side of the engine block. It should be very warm but not so hot you can't hold it.

[George House]

Jonah,
The answer to your last question can be found in the Model T Service Manual. It should take only 5 lbs. of pull on one of the fan blades to ‘break it free’ of the belt.

[Jonah D'Avella]

Ok, thank you all! Are there any other fans I can install with a steeper pitch? would that even help?

[TXGOAT2]

A fan with more pitch will make more noise and waste more power. It may pull more hosepower at road speed than the fan belt can handle. I suspect that it would. If the car overheats with the correct OE type fan and a proper belt that is properly adjusted, it has a problem that needs remedied.

[TRDxB2]

Jonah, you have two discussions about overheating. The other is about a water pump. As another member recommended, and I also endorse, stop trying tho band-aid your defunct radiator. MTFCA is full of recommendations about Berg radiators keeping things cool and they are strongly built http://www.bergsradiator.com/modelt.html Yes they are pricey and so are Brassworks but you'll find more praise about Berg's
Here is a video of him making a brass one note the equipment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbQMbpHEiAo

[Steve Jelf]

Pat is correct. A special fan is just another red herring to distract you from the real problem. In the kind of service you described a Model T should function perfectly well as it came from the factory. That is without a water pump, without a thermostat, without a special fan, without heated seats, without JATO, etc., etc. The reasons for overheating have been well covered. If your T is truly overheating, fix that. Don't waste time and money on Band Aids that may circumvent the problem instead of fixing it. VOE.

[Mark Osterman]

I do like the comment regarding getting to the stop light too soon. I do my best to either get there when green or to slow down when I see a stop light already red so that I get there after it’s turned .. and the stopped cars are moving. I have noticed that many drivers today race past me to get to the red light so they can spend quality time texting on their phones.

[RustyFords]

I bought a new Berg's unit for my 24 Touring a couple years ago.

I live near Houston, TX...ultra-hot weather is our specialty. My car doesn't overheat, sitting still, at a stoplight on a 100+ degree day.

However, I do keep the timing advanced at lights. I guess I can purposefully try to overheat it by retarding the timing while sitting still, but why try. (I honestly think the Berg's unit would handle it though).

[Quickm007]

Jonah

I don't know if you're doing this, but for one thing, do not sit for any length of time with the timer retarded. When idling or waiting for a light or anything else, be sure the timer is advanced such that the engine has attained it's highest speed at idle. Some folks will throw the lever "up" and let the exhaust bark out the back while sitting and that will heat up the car very quickly.

That's is a very good advice. I already made that same mistake when an experienced man told me don't lever up when your sitting at lights...