Overheating on the highway. 76, 2.0 Options

[SVG223]

My 914 overheats on the highway. I had concerns about the air flap, but I think the thermostat has broken and it stays in the open position. I thought something might be clogging the fan but it looks clear. I wonder about the heater air hose that goes over the motor. It could be blocking some air possibly. I may try to tie it out of the way. After exiting the highway and stopping at a stopsign the idle was extremely low, I was surprised it was still running. I turned the engine off for a while and it ran better after it cooled down. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[JamesM]

This could be SO many things its hard to find a place to start, especially on a 76. Need a lot more information here.

It could be cooling air flow related, but it could also be related to the tune of the engine or overall engine condition.

I think its worth noting though that the gauge you are looking at is showing your oil temps which are not always the best indicator of if your engine is killing itself or not (im always more concerned with head temps) especially given the vagueness of that particular gauge setup. It may not even be an actual problem unless this is a noticeable change from where it was previously running.

FYI your engine is the only one I have ever seen in 25+ years of 914s that has an intact grommet on the thermostat cable, so I have to ask, has this engine ever been out of the car? If not (and given the fact that im looking at a small leaf in your fan, I would venture to guess that you could have a lot of crud in your engine fins/oil cooler.

[wonkipop]

This could be SO many things its hard to find a place to start, especially on a 76. Need a lot more information here.

It could be cooling air flow related, but it could also be related to the tune of the engine or overall engine condition.

I think its worth noting though that the gauge you are looking at is showing your oil temps which are not always the best indicator of if your engine is killing itself or not (im always more concerned with head temps) especially given the vagueness of that particular gauge setup. It may not even be an actual problem unless this is a noticeable change from where it was previously running.

FYI your engine is the only one I have ever seen in 25+ years of 914s that has an intact grommet on the thermostat cable, so I have to ask, has this engine ever been out of the car? If not (and given the fact that im looking at a small leaf in your fan, I would venture to guess that you could have a lot of crud in your engine fins/oil cooler.

i got one of those them there grommets on my engine if you want to come to australia to look at it. plenty of beers down here and the govt. has opened the doors to the hermit kingdom (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

sounds like a good tip @JamesM re whats under the tin and on the fins since you guys on the top of the world seem to suffer from mice nest problems? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

only other question i would have for @SVG223 .
what speed on the highway and what revs.
you are not lugging the engine are you?
re the heater hose - the 75 and 76 that ran that second hose did seem to have a little fixture that bolted on to the fan casting and clipped it in position. kind of like a pipe stand off fitting that kept it from falling in over the fan inlet gap. but having said that those impeller fans are pretty efficient and can suck air in from any openings and there would be plenty available to get the volume of air in.

[JamesM]

i got one of those them there grommets on my engine if you want to come to australia to look at it. plenty of beers down here and the govt. has opened the doors to the hermit kingdom (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

sounds like a good tip @JamesM re whats under the tin and on the fins since you guys on the top of the world seem to suffer from mice nest problems? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Indeed, we are lacking in enormous mouse eating spiders to help keep the population in check.

May take you up on that beer sometime though, I could use a change of scenery.

[wonkipop]

i got one of those them there grommets on my engine if you want to come to australia to look at it. plenty of beers down here and the govt. has opened the doors to the hermit kingdom (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

sounds like a good tip @JamesM re whats under the tin and on the fins since you guys on the top of the world seem to suffer from mice nest problems? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Indeed, we are lacking in enormous mouse eating spiders to help keep the population in check.

May take you up on that beer sometime though, I could use a change of scenery.

we do have mice down here. introduced species (unlike the cute native marsupial mice) and it is a pest when they get into plague proportions out in farm country. happens every 10 years. but they tend to eat everything (like wiring) but for some reason don't do the nest building thing. seem to prefer holes in the ground. maybe something to do with it being hot? not super cold like USA? dunno. but we definitely don't seem to have that unbelievable nest building crazed species that you guys suffer through. i can't believe some of the photos i have seen of what they get up to in your neck of the woods.

its the deadly snakes that get them and keep the numbers down in normal times.
the spiders are more interested in attacking people. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)