Engine Heat with AC On Options

[HardHead93]

It got a little warm today in southern New Mexico so today was the first day I drove the 3sgte swapped Celica in stop and go traffic with the AC on. Normally without the AC on, the engine temps bounce between 189 and 199 degrees F. When I turned the AC on it climbed to 209 degrees in the course of 5 minutes before I turned the AC off. Once I turned the AC off the temp quickly dropped back into the normal range in about another 2-3 minutes. I am reading the temps off an aftermarket water temp gauge with the sensor on the upper radiator hose. Below is a picture of the type of gauge I am using. It is a Glowshift MaxTow water temp gauge.


When that gauge reads 215 degrees the stock dummy temp gauge in the car starts moving towards the H. I am running an Ebay 2-row radiator with aftermarket fans and I have a FMIC. Should I keep the aftermarket fans or go back to a stock radiator with stock fans? Also, the Ebay radiator is pretty dirty from constantly taking it in and out of the car during the build process, could that be the culprit? Is there something else I should check on that may be causing the engine temps to climb with he AC on? Below is a picture of the 2 different radiators.


Is there really an advantage to running a 2 row radiator with a 3sgte?

This post has been edited by HardHead93: Mar 17, 2017 - 7:33 PM

[HardHead93]

I got my new gauge installed today. Before I had a gauge that only measured engine water temp. I switched it out for one that I can measure engine water temp and intercooler water temp. The top number is engine temp and the bottom in the intercooler. Here is a picture of it in action.

My hope is that this gauge will alert me to any problems with the intercooler system so I can let off the gas and not boost the motor with high intake temps. The ECU will retard timing if it see high intake temps but it can only do so much if the water pump were to stop working or I had a water leak.

I took the car for a drive with the new gauge and I was very surprised at how much the intercooler system heat soaks at stop. The water temps ranged from 85 to 95 degrees when I was driving. As soon as I was idling the water temps would climb to 115 in a matter of minutes. Then they would drop quickly as soon as I started moving again. I really need to get my intercooler fan on a switch that turns on with a certain intake temp.

This post has been edited by HardHead93: Aug 6, 2017 - 12:43 AM